Narok: More than 30,000 residents across Narok and Baringo counties have applied for national identity cards during a 10-day mobile registration exercise under the government's Usajili Mashinani initiative.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Director of the National Registration Bureau (NRB), Aggrey Masai, stated that the exercise is a part of the government's effort to streamline the national identification registration process and make services more accessible to communities facing challenges in reaching registration centers.

Masai highlighted the bureau's commitment to transitioning from manual systems to digital processes using live capture machines to improve the efficiency of national identity card registration and issuance. This transition is expected to guarantee timely and efficient processing of identification documents. The initiative aims to establish registration points at the ward level, addressing barriers such as long distances and difficult terrains that have historically hindered access to registration offices.

Speaking at Katakala in Narok North Sub-County, Masai explained that the Usajili Mashinani campaign also focuses on facilitating the issuance of birth certificates. He noted that the absence of birth certificates has been a significant barrier for children, affecting their access to primary education, vaccination, and healthcare services.

The National Registration Bureau has made significant strides in clearing application backlogs and expanding printing capacity to accelerate the issuance of identification cards. Masai revealed that the bureau can now print up to 32,000 identity cards daily, with a target processing period of seven to ten days for new applications. The mobile registration exercise also recorded success in Turkana, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, with 100,195 Kenyans applying for identity cards.

The Usajili Mashinani campaign, launched by the Ministry of Interior in October 2025, is a 10-day Rapid Results Initiative aimed at expanding access to national identification services. Initially targeting 15 counties with historically low registration rates, the programme seeks to ensure that all citizens obtain the necessary legal documentation for accessing essential government services.

To support the initiative, the State Department has enhanced operational capacity by procuring 400 Live Capture Units for digital registration, with plans to acquire an additional 200 machines by the end of the financial year. Additionally, 56 vehicles have been acquired to facilitate the mobility of registration teams to remote areas.

In Narok North Sub-County, Registration Officer Carolyne Juma led the mobile outreach team, supported by field officers, chiefs, teachers, and community volunteers. Juma emphasized the efficiency of modern technology in the registration exercise, allowing for quick data capture and verification, with identity cards ready for collection within seven days.

The government aims to register at least one million new identity card holders within the next year to facilitate enrollment in key services such as the Social Health Authority (SHA). Juma noted that obtaining national identity cards will enable individuals to register as voters and participate in the 2027 general election.

The Department of Immigration and Citizen Services has earmarked 15 pastoralist and marginalized counties for the programme, targeting approximately 100,000 new ID applicants in each county. The initiative could enable about 1.5 million Kenyans in these regions to obtain crucial identification documents.

Rift Valley Regional Director for Civil Registration Services, Ken Nyamweya, attributed the programme's success largely to effective community mobilization. The registration teams engaged in early sensitization efforts through village barazas, church announcements, and radio broadcasts in local languages, ensuring residents were informed about the exercise.

The government plans to procure up to 300 additional live capture machines in 2026 to enhance mobile registration ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a goal of equipping all 1,450 wards in Kenya with live capture machines by 2026. This initiative addresses the needs of an estimated six million Kenyans requiring new national identity cards this year.

To encourage mass registration, the government has waived processing charges for first-time applicants and those replacing lost identity cards. However, this move has faced criticism from opposition leaders who claim it may influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Dr. Belio Kipsang, urged departmental heads to maintain momentum, improve efficiency, and prioritize timely issuance of national identity cards as the government intensifies efforts to bring services closer to citizens.