Kipsang Leads Nationwide Push to Boost ID Registration Through Grassroots Mobilisation

Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has intensified efforts to accelerate national identification registration, calling on local administrators to spearhead grassroots mobilisation across the country.

Speaking at Kapsabet Boys High School during a sensitisation forum for National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), Kipsang emphasized the critical role of national identity cards in enabling access to essential services such as healthcare, education, employment, and financial systems.

The forum, held in Nandi County, is part of the ongoing “Usajili Mashinani” (Registration at the Grassroots) initiative—a nationwide campaign launched following Kipsang’s appointment to the Immigration docket in March 2025.

Kipsang urged chiefs and assistant chiefs to take a leading role in identifying eligible applicants and ensuring no Kenyan is left undocumented. He noted that local administrators are uniquely positioned to verify and reach residents due to their close ties with the community.

“Chiefs and their assistants understand their communities best and are best placed to identify and verify eligible applicants,” he said.

The Principal Secretary revealed that over 462,000 national identity cards remain uncollected nationwide, including about 3,000 in Nandi County alone. To address this, chiefs have been tasked with tracing applicants and facilitating easier access to the documents by bringing services closer to the people.

The renewed push comes in the wake of reforms introduced after the abolition of vetting by President William Ruto. Under the new guidelines, administrators have been empowered to authenticate applicants using local knowledge and, where necessary, biometric verification—significantly reducing delays and bureaucratic hurdles.

Working closely with NGAOs, Kipsang said the government is committed to strengthening the national documentation system, improving service delivery, and ensuring every eligible Kenyan is registered and accounted for.