Kenya: Campaign to Clear 557,930 Uncollected IDs for 2027 Election

• The Kenyan government is actively tracing owners of 557,930 uncollected national identity cards ahead of the 2027 General Election.
• Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang confirmed efforts to ensure all eligible citizens obtain IDs before voter registration begins in January 2027.
• Chiefs and assistant chiefs are enlisted to help locate applicants, and an e-Citizen SMS notification system is being developed.
• Fees for new and replacement identity cards have been abolished to remove financial barriers for applicants.
• Despite Section 17 of the Registration of Persons Act allowing invalidation, the government is proceeding cautiously with nearly 400,000 cards uncollected for over a decade.

The government's proactive stance underscores the critical link between possessing a national identity card and the fundamental right to participate in the upcoming 2027 General Election.

In a concerted effort to clear a significant backlog ahead of the 2027 General Election, the Kenyan government has launched a nationwide campaign to locate the owners of 557,930 uncollected national identity cards. Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang informed Members of Parliament that these intensified efforts aim to ensure all eligible Kenyans possess their identity documents before voter registration commences in January 2027, addressing concerns that a lack of proper identification could disenfranchise thousands of potential voters.

Central to this initiative is the deployment of National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), including chiefs and assistant chiefs, who will receive lists of uncollected cards within their jurisdictions to help trace and notify the rightful applicants. Furthermore, the department is exploring mechanisms to permit parents, guardians, or other authorized individuals to collect identity cards on behalf of applicants, subject to rigorous verification processes. To facilitate applications and collections, the government has abolished the previous Sh300 fee for new identity cards and the Sh1,000 charge for replacements, which had been identified as a barrier for some citizens. An electronic notification system is also under development via the e-Citizen platform, designed to send SMS alerts to applicants once their identity cards are ready for pickup.

A substantial portion of the uncollected identity cards, nearly 400,000, have remained at registration offices for over a decade, presenting unique legal and administrative complexities. Principal Secretary Kipsang acknowledged these challenges during his appearance before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. He highlighted Section 17 of the Registration of Persons Act, which grants the Cabinet Secretary the authority to invalidate identity cards that have been uncollected for extended periods.

Despite this legal provision, the government is exercising considerable caution regarding the disposal of these documents, recognizing the deeply personal nature of an identity card. The government's proactive stance underscores the critical link between possessing a national identity card and the fundamental right to participate in the upcoming 2027 General Election, necessitating careful handling of the Kenya national ID backlog to uphold citizen rights.

During the parliamentary session, Members of Parliament voiced significant concerns regarding persistent delays in the processing and delivery of identity cards, despite the adoption of modern technology. Teso North MP Uku Kaunya cited a specific instance where over 5,000 identity cards destined for registration stations in Amagoro had been delayed for two to three months, directly impacting applicants awaiting their documents. Kaunya challenged the department to explain these prolonged waiting periods, arguing that such delays undermine efforts to ensure timely acquisition of IDs for voter registration.

In response to these issues, MP Kaunya suggested involving village elders in the distribution process, leveraging their grassroots networks to efficiently reach applicants. While acknowledging the challenges, Saku MP Dido Raso, who serves as the committee’s vice-chairperson, commended the government for improvements in identity card accessibility, particularly benefiting pastoralist communities. The overarching goal remains to ensure every eligible Kenyan possesses a national identity card before the crucial January 2027 voter registration period for the 2027 General Election.

Lawyers should advise clients on the critical importance of collecting their national IDs, particularly given the government's intensified efforts ahead of the 2027 voter registration and the potential for future legal action regarding long-uncollected documents under Section 17 of the Registration of Persons Act, despite current caution. This also impacts electoral law compliance and citizen rights to participate in elections.

Source: Original reporting via parliamentary committee testimony