Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has called on the Senate to investigate the persistent delays in the issuance and collection of national identity cards across the country. Addressing the Senate, Nyutu urged the Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations to establish the root causes of the delays and identify measures being implemented to accelerate the process.
The committee, chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, was tasked with determining the total number of uncollected ID cards currently held at Huduma Centres and National Registration Bureau (NRB) offices nationwide. It was also asked to outline strategies to clear the backlog and explore more convenient collection methods to make the process more accessible to citizens.
Senator Nyutu further requested the committee to assess how the delays are affecting the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise. He emphasized the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prevent potential voter disenfranchisement.
His call came shortly after President William Ruto announced a waiver on the Ksh1,000 ID replacement fee to support the ongoing voter registration drive. The President said the directive will remain in place until after the 2027 General Election, ensuring that no eligible voter is locked out due to lack of identification.
Another development aimed at improving ID access is Parliament’s approval of the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill, which will allow Form Four students aged 18 and above to register for IDs before leaving school. The Bill also proposes automatic voter registration for citizens upon attaining the age of 18.
Senator Nyutu urged the Ministry to provide clear timelines on when the current challenges in ID issuance and collection would be fully resolved, noting that identification is a fundamental right and a key pillar of voter participation.
