The government has intensified efforts to ensure every eligible Kenyan acquires a national identification card, with outreach campaigns now targeting historically marginalized regions in Northern Kenya, including Garissa, Turkana, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
Speaking on the ongoing programme, Director of the National Registration Bureau, Aggrey Maasai, reaffirmed the bureau’s constitutional mandate to register and issue ID cards to all Kenyans aged 18 and above. He emphasized that the initiative is more than an administrative exercise, describing it as a “life-changing intervention” for residents in remote areas.
The nationwide programme, dubbed “My ID, My Life,” was officially launched earlier this month by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, and prioritizes areas historically facing logistical and infrastructural challenges in accessing registration services.
While Turkana leads with 25,000 registrations, West Pokot 23,000, and Elgeyo Marakwet 19,000, Garissa and other counties in Northern Kenya are ramping up outreach to ensure residents are not left behind. Officials in Garissa report that mobile registration units are being deployed to towns and remote villages, with special focus on youth and marginalized communities.
An ID remains one of the most critical documents for any Kenyan, unlocking access to government services such as Social Health coverage, voter registration, passport applications, school enrollment, and mobile phone registration.
Director Maasai highlighted that, in West Pokot, the bureau exceeded expectations by processing ID cards within four days for applicants using new technology-driven machines, cutting down the previous seven-day timeline. Beneficiaries are being notified via SMS when their IDs are ready for collection at designated points.
Residents of Northern Kenya expressed gratitude for the initiative. Eighteen-year-old Hillary Mnang’a from Makutano town said, “Having my ID just opened up the world for me. I can now further my studies and register mobile services in my own name.”
Officials urge eligible residents in Garissa and across Northern Kenya to take advantage of the remaining registration window, stressing that possessing a national ID is essential for personal empowerment, participation in national development, and equal opportunity regardless of location.
