In a significant move to streamline citizen registration and boost electoral participation, a proposed new law could make national identification cards mandatory for all Form Four students who have reached 18 years of age before they leave school.
The development follows the approval for publication of the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill by the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs this Tuesday. If enacted, the bill will fundamentally reshape how Kenyans obtain national IDs and register to vote.
Bridging the Gap for Millions
This legislative push comes against a stark backdrop: the government has revealed that over one million Kenyans aged 30 and above currently live without national identification cards. This lack of a vital document severely limits their ability to participate fully in the economy and civic life.
To address this long-standing issue, the government has announced a massive mobile registration exercise targeting 15 counties with historically low registration rates. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that this initiative aims to correct “historical discrepancies,” notably the now-abolished extra-vetting process that disproportionately affected residents of border counties.
Leveraging Technology for Efficiency
During a recent assessment of operations at the National Registration Bureau headquarters in Nyayo, CS Murkomen highlighted technological advancements speeding up the process.
“The introduction of the live capture system, which we have been piloting, has drastically reduced the time taken to process IDs,” Murkomen said. “To speed up issuance across the country, we shall soon deploy the machines in all 1,450 wards.”
Despite this push for efficiency, a significant bottleneck remains. Over 400,000 completed ID cards are currently sitting uncollected at the National Registration centre in Nairobi, nearly half of which belong to first-time applicants.
Automatic Voter Registration for Youth
A key component of the proposed amendment links ID acquisition directly to voter registration. Under the new system, any Kenyan who attains the age of 18 and receives their national ID would be automatically registered as a voter in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) database.
Lawmakers argue that this integration will promote youth participation in elections and reduce the long queues and delays often witnessed at registration bureaus during voter drives.
Potential Impact and Public Scrutiny
If the bill is passed before the 2027 General Election, it could lead to a substantial increase in the number of Kenyans possessing both an identity card and voter registration, enabling broader participation in the constitutional process.
However, the proposal has not been met with universal acclaim. Some Kenyans have questioned the motives behind making ID acquisition mandatory for students, noting that the current system already allows individuals to register for the document and as voters freely.
As the government moves to deploy new technology and rectify past registration failures, the success of this ambitious dual-purpose initiative will depend on its execution and its ability to win the trust of a scrutinizing public.
