Murkomen Launches National Effort to Fix ID Registration Gaps After Jukwaa La Usalama Tours

 

Following the conclusion of the nationwide Jukwaa La Usalama tours, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a robust plan to address gaps in service delivery identified during the public engagement forums.

During an inspection visit to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) headquarters in Nairobi today, Murkomen commended the dedication of officers working to meet the high demand for national identification cards (IDs). He also lauded the enhanced security measures that ensure IDs are issued only to rightful applicants.

“I am gratified to see our officers working diligently to meet the needs of citizens. The introduction of stringent verification protocols ensures that the integrity of our ID issuance process remains intact,” the CS said.

As part of the ministry’s broader reform agenda, Murkomen revealed that the government will embark on a massive mobile registration exercise in 15 counties identified as having low ID registration rates. This initiative aims to rectify long-standing disparities, particularly those caused by the now-abolished extra-vetting procedures in border counties.

“These mobile units will go a long way in correcting historical injustices and ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind,” he emphasized.

A key component of the reform effort is the rollout of the live capture system—a digital platform that has significantly reduced the processing time for ID applications during its pilot phase. Murkomen announced plans to scale up the system by deploying machines to all 1,450 wards across the country.

“This technology will be a game-changer in improving efficiency and transparency in the registration process,” he noted.

However, the CS raised concern over the backlog of uncollected IDs, disclosing that 400,000 IDs—including 191,000 belonging to first-time applicants—remain unclaimed. He appealed to citizens to collect their documents, even as the ministry explores mechanisms to deliver them through the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) system.

Accompanying the CS during the visit were key government officials, including Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang, NRB Secretary Dr. Christopher Wanjau, Civil Registration Secretary Paul Mwangemi, Immigration Services Director General Evelyn Cheluget, and eCitizen Services Director General Amb. Isaac Ochieng.

The Interior Ministry’s renewed push is part of a larger digital transformation and citizen-centric approach to enhance service delivery across government agencies.