ISIOLO, Kenya — Thousands of residents in remote parts of Isiolo County are gaining access to critical government services after a mobile registration drive rolled out to issue identity cards and birth certificates in hard-to-reach areas.
The exercise, which began on April 7 and concludes on April 17, 2026, has recorded increased turnout in recent days as more residents, particularly young people who have recently turned 18, seek registration. The initiative is also expected to boost voter registration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to the officer overseeing the exercise in Isiolo County, John Njuguna, at least 6,864 people have been processed in the first nine days of the programme. He said the figure represents about 40 to 50pc of the target population.
Njuguna expressed optimism that turnout would improve on the final day of the exercise, noting that mobilisation efforts had intensified across the region.
He cited nomadic lifestyles as one of the main challenges, explaining that pastoralist communities often move with livestock in search of water and pasture, forcing registration teams to track them across settlements with the help of local administrators.
“The officer hailed the efforts of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to raise awareness among the people and mobilise them, noting that this was the reason for the exercise’s success,” he said.
The exercise has been supported by intensified community mobilisation by local chiefs and assistant chiefs, helping improve awareness and participation in the documentation process.
A key policy shift boosting the exercise’s effectiveness has been the removal of stringent vetting requirements for ID applicants. Under the revised approach, applicants only need identification by parents and local chiefs, significantly reducing barriers that had previously excluded many residents.
At Chechelesi Chief’s office in Tuluroba location, hundreds of young people turned up seeking registration, many of whom described the mobile drive as a long-awaited opportunity to access essential identification documents.
Residents welcomed the initiative, saying it would improve their ability to access government services, formal employment, and financial inclusion opportunities, while also enabling them to participate in national elections.
The drive comes at a critical time as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election, where possession of national identification documents remains a key requirement for voter registration under the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and electoral laws.
The initiative underscores ongoing government efforts to improve civil registration coverage in marginalised and hard-to-reach areas, particularly among pastoralist communities that have historically faced documentation barriers.
As the programme concludes, attention will turn to whether similar mobile registration exercises will be expanded to other underserved counties to close remaining gaps in national identification coverage.
