State says 683,814 IDs uncollected

Kenyans in different counties are yet to collect a total of 683,814 national identity cards, which are ready, the Interior ministry has announced.

In the Coastal region, Kilifi County leads with 14,352 uncollected IDs and is followed by Mombasa with 10,025, Kwale with 3,683, Taita Taveta with 1,436, Tana River with 1,278, and Lamu with 1,049.

There are 1,176 uncollected IDs in Wajir, 676 in Mandera, and 50 in Garissa, in the Northeast; and 1,147 in Marsabit, 228 in Isiolo, 4,207 in Meru, 1,956 in Tharaka Nithi, 3,406 in Embu, 3,163 in Kitui, 4,939 in Machakos, and 3,517 in Makueni.

Counties in the Western region  - Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia, have 7,965, 2,388, 7,145, and 4,008 uncollected IDs, respectively.

The ministry urged the public to collect the IDs which are available at the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and Huduma Centres.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared in a Gazette notice in November 2023 that ID acquisition will no longer be free, with first-time holders required to pay Sh300. Replacements attract additional charges.

The High Court, however, suspended the notice following a petition by Magare Gikenyi, challenging increased fees for IDs and passports.

"A conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending Gazette Notices No. 15239-15242 dated 6th November 2023 and/or any other document purporting to give authority to increase or review the charges/fees/levies specified therein pending the hearing and determination of this application inter-partes," ordered Justice LN Mugambi.

Gikenyi claimed in the petition that the costs were unjustly increased and that there was no public engagement.

He further suggested that the move would disproportionately affect young Kenyans, making it difficult for them to obtain IDs and therefore miss out on jobs.

Over the last two and a half months, the number of newly issued identity cards has surpassed 600,000.