The government has come under scrutiny following concerns over delays in the issuance of national identity cards.
Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo raised the matter in the Senate on Tuesday, March 10, seeking a formal statement on the status of national ID issuance nationwide amid growing complaints from young Kenyans who have reached the age of 18 but are yet to receive the crucial document.
He requested a statement from the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, saying reports of delays have been recorded in several counties.
According to Maanzo, the delays have had serious consequences for young people who rely on the national ID to access essential opportunities and services.
“The affected persons are greatly impacted, as they are unable to access certain essential government services,” he said, asking the committee to provide detailed information on the issuance of national identity cards from 2024 to date, including per county data disaggregated by gender and statistics on applications currently under processing.
Maanzo further asked the committee to explain the reasons behind disparities in the issuance of national identity cards in different parts of the country.
In addition, he requested clarification on the policy, administrative and operational steps being taken to address the situation and ensure the timely and equitable issuance of the documents.
