Busia County Officials Urge Collection of Over 4,000 Unclaimed National IDs

BUSIA, Kenya — Busia County is facing a significant backlog of unclaimed National Identity Cards (IDs), with officials urging residents to collect their documents to facilitate access to national services on the E-citizen platform. The county has over 4,000 IDs lying uncollected, a situation that is hindering residents from fully exercising their rights and participating in Kenya’s burgeoning digital economy.

According to Kenya News Agency, despite concerted efforts by National Government Administration Officers to ensure timely distribution of IDs to applicants, a large number of these crucial documents remain unclaimed. “As a government, we are going an extra mile to ensure no Kenyan misses government services as a result of a delayed ID. It’s disheartening to see IDs yet to be collected,” Chaunga stated during a press briefing.

The issue of unclaimed IDs is not unique to Busia County. Official data from the National Registration Bureau indicates that Kakamega County holds the highest number of uncollected IDs in the Western region, with 7,965 documents awaiting collection. Bungoma and Vihiga counties follow, with 7,145 and 2,388 unclaimed IDs, respectively, bringing the total in the Western region to 21,506.

The county commissioner has called on residents to visit their respective National Registration Bureau offices at the sub-county level or Huduma Centres across Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Vihiga to collect their IDs. This plea comes in the wake of public frustration over the prolonged waits for ID documents, as expressed by some residents to the Kenya News Agency.

In November 2023, the Interior Ministry attempted to introduce fees for ID applications and replacements, sparking public outcry. The proposed fees were later revised following a court intervention, which halted the charges pending the outcome of a legal petition against them.

The delay in ID production has been attributed to various logistical challenges, including breakdowns of printing machinery, shortages of printing materials, and the thorough background checks required, especially in border counties. In Kenya, possessing an ID is essential for accessing a wide range of services, including those provided by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Higher Education Loans Board, among others.