Kenya’s Immigration and Citizen Services has launched a hassle-free mobile enrolment exercise for the issuance of national identity (ID) cards dubbed Usajili Mashinani.

Usajili Mashinani (Grassroots Citizenship Registration) programme is a people-centred initiative designed to reduce barriers to registration and ensure citizens fully benefit from the ongoing national government projects and social services across the country.

Local opinion leaders have been urged to support the new initiative by encouraging all eligible people to show up for enrolment.

Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang says the new registration drive seeks to make the vital document accessible to all Kenyans, especially those residing in difficult-to-access areas.

Dr Kipsang appealed to eligible citizens to take advantage of this new ID campaign, which will be characterised by mobile registration efforts.

The principal urged administrators to support and expedite legitimate applications, provide accurate registration data and support public awareness, noting that access to identification is a constitutional right and critical to socio-economic inclusion.

“All registration officers are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline as corruption will attract punitive measures,” he said.

The principal secretary encouraged citizens to acquire national IDs to access government services, highlighting that over 400,000 users access the eCitizen platform daily, all of whom require a valid ID.

Dr Kipsang said to enhance mobile registration, the government has deployed 100 live capture machines, with additional units set to be rolled out nationwide to further intensify registration across the country.

The initiative uses mobile units to target remote areas and pastoralist communities with a goal to reducing the time it takes to receive ID cards to a week.

“This live capture technology will allow on-the-spot registration of citizens in remote areas with data transmitted real-time for processing within the shortest time possible,” Dr Kipsang said.

The principal secretary commended chiefs and assistant chiefs for their continued efforts in the registration of persons. He said the government will use the ID cards scheme as a ‘reliable comprehensive data base’ to plan for the present and future generations.

“The government is working overdrive to ensure that no Kenyan who turns 18 years and above is denied access to their rightful identity,” he said.

He says the current identity cards issuance effort, specifically targets Kenyans residing in far-flung areas, where national registration offices do not exist.

The principal secretary was speaking in Hola town of Tana River County, accompanied by heads of directorates from the department, where he led a sensitisation programme, engaging National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) on Revised National ID registration guidelines.

The awareness creation exercise focused on familiarising administrators with the revised framework and emphasized the importance of expanding mobile registration outreach to ensure all eligible Kenyans access identification services.

Dr Kipsang called on National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to strengthen grassroots civic education, ahead of the upcoming 10-day intensive mobile registration exercise across Tana River County and reinforced Usajili Mashinani as a key driver of inclusive service delivery.

The PS said to accelerate the process, the government has eliminated mandatory intensive vetting for border counties placing such responsibility on local chiefs and their assistants to verify new applicants.

He said the mandatory vetting in border counties was abolished by President William Ruto in May 2024, as it has placed many hurdles and created unnecessary bureaucracy denying many vital documents.

Kipsang said similar civic education engagements have been successfully conducted in Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Mombasa counties, strengthening grassroots coordination and delivery of registration services. He encouraged citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain their ID cards, which are essential for participating in national activities including the upcoming 2027 general elections.

“Usajili Mashinani is an initiative that will ensure that every eligible citizen is registered, empowering Kenyans to participate in the country’s growth and development,” he said.

He said his office is determined to work towards ensuring that every Kenyan is accounted for and has access to their rightful identity and take part in nation building. The principal secretary said the government is dedicated to preserving the integrity of Kenyan citizenship for ‘national pride and security’.

“National government officials should ensure that the ID card issuance process to capture the populace proceeds smoothly in their areas of jurisdiction,” said the PS, adding that ID cards has a pervasive impact on every facet of the socio-economic fabric of the nation.

ID cards serve as a critical document required for obtaining a taxpayer identification number, opening a bank account and applying for jobs, voters card and passport.

They are also required for accessing social protection services including the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer programme for vulnerable populations such as the elderly.

Chiefs and their assistants in Tana River County attend an ID card issuance sensitization forum in Hola town.

• A Tell Media / KNA report by Hussein Abdullah