Over 1,000 national ID cards destroyed in fire during protests in Ol Kalou
According to the Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, the attack led to the loss of not only uncollected ID cards but also vital registration equipment.
More than 1,000 national identity cards were destroyed when the National Registration Bureau (NRB) office in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, was set ablaze by protesters during demonstrations held on June 25 to mark the first anniversary of last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
According to the Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, the attack led to the loss of not only uncollected ID cards but also vital registration equipment.
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He confirmed that two Live Capture Units (LCUs)—devices used to enrol new applicants into the national identity system—were destroyed in the fire.
Dr Kipsang said the office had been storing more than 1,000 identity cards at the time of the incident. He warned that the destruction would significantly disrupt service delivery in the region, where many residents rely on national IDs to access essential government and private services, including healthcare, education, banking, and employment.
“As a country, we are citizens of a nation called Kenya, and our citizenship is affirmed by our national identity documents,” said Dr Kipsang.
“Targeting the NRB office is equivalent to attacking the core of the nation. These centres are crucial in establishing citizens’ identity, rights, and access to services. Damaging them undermines the government’s ability to deliver vital services and protect its people.”
Dr Kipsang condemned those responsible for the arson, saying that destroying public offices ultimately harms ordinary Kenyans who depend on such services.
He added that the government was taking urgent steps to ensure residents in the affected area would continue to receive services despite the setback. As a temporary measure, mobile registration units will be deployed in Ol Kalou to help bridge the gap while efforts to restore the damaged facility are underway.
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