- New system: Kenyans will automatically receive ID cards at 18 based on birth data.
- No need for applications; IDs will be collected from designated offices.
- Govt defends the vetting process, saying it applies to all border towns, not just Northern Kenya.
- Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen insists the move enhances national security.
- The announcement was made during a progress review meeting in Naivasha.
The Ministry of Interior has unveiled a new system that will see Kenyans automatically issued with identity cards (IDs) upon turning 18 years old, eliminating the need for applications.
The government will rely on birth registration data to facilitate the process, ensuring that all eligible citizens receive their IDs without delays.
Vetting Process Sparks Debate
The move comes amid controversy over the government’s vetting process, which has drawn criticism from some quarters. However, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the initiative, saying it is aimed at addressing security gaps in the country.
“Based on the data that we shall have collected from birth, there will be no need to apply for IDs, but those who attain the required age will collect them from the necessary office,” Murkomen explained.
Vetting Applies to All Border Towns
Addressing concerns that vetting only targets Northern Kenya, Murkomen clarified that the process is not political and is being conducted in all border regions to enhance security.
“The ongoing vetting of IDs is not concentrated on the Kenya-Somali border but in all the country’s border towns,” he stated.
Murkomen made these remarks while addressing the press at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge during a progress review meeting with senior officers from his Ministry.
