More than 12,700 national identity cards remain uncollected in Kisii County, even as Members of Parliament raised concern over persistent delays and alleged discrimination in the issuance of IDs in Kenya’s border counties.
The National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security said the backlog of 12,774 uncollected IDs highlights ongoing challenges in the registration process, despite improvements in document production following the introduction of live capture technology.
The concerns emerged on Saturday after the committee conducted inspection visits to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and Civil Registration Offices (CROs) in Kisii County.
Lawmakers questioned why applicants from border communities continue to undergo additional vetting despite a presidential directive abolishing the practice.
The delegation was led by Lari MP Mburu Kahangara and included Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, Elgeyo Marakwet Woman Representative Caroline Ngelechei, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, and Mount Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.
Speaking after the inspections, Hon. Kahangara said the committee aimed to assess operational challenges in registration offices and evaluate service delivery to citizens.
“We have realised that citizens from border counties still face challenges in obtaining identity cards. Although there was a presidential directive to eliminate screening, the current process still subjects them to additional verification requirements and demands for more documents,” he said.
He noted that many affected applicants already hold birth certificates confirming their Kenyan citizenship by birth.
“These are citizens who already have birth certificates showing they are Kenyan by birth. Subjecting them to further vetting and identification processes is discriminatory,” he added.
The lawmakers said they would engage the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services to streamline the process and ensure equal treatment for all Kenyans applying for identification documents
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Hon. Kahangara also cited cases involving students from border communities, including the Suba and Kuria, who undergo lengthy verification procedures compared to applicants from other regions.
The committee commended registration officers in Kisii County for exceeding their targets, noting that the county registered more than 34,000 applicants against a target of 24,000—representing about 150 per cent performance.
However, the MPs expressed concern over the rising number of uncollected identity cards.
“In Kisii County alone, there are 12,774 uncollected IDs. We urge wananchi to follow up and collect their documents once they are ready. With live capture machines, production and issuance has become much faster,” said Hon. Kahangara.
He added that possession of national identity cards is critical for voter registration and participation in democratic processes, including next year’s elections.
On civil registration services, the committee noted minimal challenges, saying applicants who present all required documents can obtain birth certificates within a day.
“We commend the officers because birth certificate services are being delivered efficiently. If one provides the requisite documents, they can receive a birth certificate on the same day,” he said.
However, the MPs cautioned that the government’s plan to decentralise civil registration services to all sub-counties could strain staffing and infrastructure.
“The decentralisation programme is likely to create staffing and infrastructure challenges. As a committee, we shall examine these issues during the budget-making process and seek appropriate solutions,” he said.
The committee’s findings are expected to inform recommendations aimed at improving access to registration and civil documentation services across the country.
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