Govt launches nationwide mobile ID card registration drive
By David Nthua, October 14, 2025Barely weeks after President William Ruto announced the removal of fees for applying for new or replacement national ID cards, the government has launched a nationwide mobile registration drive.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the new exercise has already started in 15 counties and aims to speed up the issuing of national identification cards to Kenyans across the country.
Elsewhere, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that over one million Kenyans aged over 30 have no national IDs.
Mobile ID registration launched
PS Kipsang said the government’s mobile registration teams will visit areas where National ID and voter registration rates are still low. The programme will also help citizens apply for birth certificates and enrol in the Social Health Authority (SHA) system at the same time.
“The mobile registration drive will make it easier for Kenyans, especially those in remote areas, to access essential government services,” Kipsang explained.
He added that the initiative supports the government’s plan to ensure all citizens have identification documents before the 2027 General Election.
According to the PS, the move is meant to help young people who have not yet registered for IDs or voter cards. He noted that the mobile teams will work closely with local chiefs, schools and youth groups to reach as many people as possible.
Also watch: Over 6,000 uncollected IDs in Embu threaten voter registration efforts.
Faster processing and delivery
While explaining the process, PS Kipsang said the new system allows personal information to be captured digitally and sent directly to the National Registration Bureau Headquarters in Nairobi.
This means that citizens can now get their ID cards much faster than before.
“Your information is captured in the system and submitted directly to the headquarters for printing. This has made it possible for us to issue IDs to Kenyan citizens within one to seven days,” he said.
He added that residents in Nairobi can receive their ID cards even faster.
Also watch: Justina Wamae warns that free IDs for immigrants will hurt tourism.
“If you take your critical information, such as biometrics, by five in the evening, you will be able to collect your ID the next day,” Kipsang said.
The Principal Secretary also noted that the new approach reduces paperwork and delays caused by manual processes, making ID registration faster, safer and more reliable.
Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has already begun registering new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The government hopes the ongoing ID registration campaign will help more youths qualify to vote in the next polls.
The launch of the mobile registration drive marks another major step in Kenya’s digital transformation journey, improving access to public services and ensuring no citizen is left behind.