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Tag: Maisha cards

  • Over 900,000 KCSE candidates to receive Maisha IDs

    Over 900,000 KCSE candidates to receive Maisha IDs

    The government has commenced issuing national ID cards to Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, a significant step in ensuring seamless transitions for students pursuing higher education and other opportunities.

    Immigration and Citizens Services PS Julius Bitok officially launched the initiative at Ngomeni Secondary School in Kilifi, targeting over 900,000 Form Four students.

    He explained that providing Maisha IDs to these candidates aims to alleviate challenges associated with admissions to tertiary institutions.

    “We have encountered numerous cases where students joining universities and colleges face setbacks due to the lack of IDs, which are essential for admissions and other processes.

    Our goal is to ensure that eligible students exit high school with their ID cards,” Bitok stated.

    The joint effort with the Ministry of Education leverages existing school records to confirm eligibility, aiming to streamline the ID issuance process.

    Each applicant will benefit from a fast-tracked, seven-day delivery timeline enabled by live biometric capture.

    “We’re collaborating closely with school heads who already possess the necessary student data,” Bitok noted.

    “This enables a smooth, efficient process for capturing live biometric data, minimizing delays and enhancing accuracy.”

    The launch follows growing concerns from the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) over challenges faced by students lacking IDs.

    In response, the National Assembly’s Education Committee had recently summoned PS Bitok, urging him to address the issue.

    PS Bitok also called on Kenyans to collect over 400,000 IDs currently awaiting pickup at Huduma Centers and the National Registration Bureau nationwide.

    During the event, the PS inaugurated a new birth and death certificate office in the Magarini constituency, located in Kongoni.

    This facility is expected to reduce pressure on the Civil Registration Services office in Malindi and enhance access for Kilifi residents, who previously relied on just two other CRS offices in Kilifi town and Kaloleni, serving a population of nearly two million.

    Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, who attended the launch, lauded the initiative, noting the burden it will lift from students.

    “For the first time, students will graduate with their Maisha ID, giving them the critical identification needed to access essential services and begin adulthood on solid footing,” said Baya, who also serves as the Deputy Majority Leader in the National Assembly.

    The event was attended by senior registration officials and local leaders, marking a pivotal moment in Kenya’s efforts to improve access to vital identification services for young citizens.

  • 1.8 million Maisha Cards issued, working shifts extended to clear backlog

    1.8 million Maisha Cards issued, working shifts extended to clear backlog

    The government has introduced a 24-hour shift to deal with the backlog of processing new national identity cards known as Maisha cards.

    Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok explained that technical and legal challenges that had stalled the production of the digital cards have been resolved assuring that staff were working day and night to clear a backlog of 600,000 cards.

    At the same time, the PS disclosed that 1.8 million cards had been so far been issued adding that the backlog which had built up was being sorted.

    The PS gave the assurance on Tuesday when he appeared before the Members of the National Assembly Committee on Education to respond to concerns about the delayed issuance of the cards to students which had hindered them from accessing loans and scholarships.

    “As of now, we have issued 1.8 million Maisha Cards, and over 1 million have been collected. However, 569,000 cards remain uncollected. We have adopted a 24-hour shift and acquired additional machines to speed up the production process,” the PS reassured.

    Committee Chair Julius Melly emphasised the urgency of resolving the delays, particularly as universities have begun using alternative methods, such as NEMIS numbers, to allow students to register and start classes.

    “As a Committee, we have intervened to ensure that university students can register and access financial support using NEMIS as they wait for IDs but the problem persists. We need a solution,” said Melly.

    Luanda MP Dick Maungu also sought details on the measures the Ministry was putting in place to inform ID applicants, ” What channels of communication are available for students and citizens to follow up on delayed issuance of IDs or Maisha Cards?”

    PS Bitok added that the vetting process for border counties, which previously caused delays, has been abolished, making the process seamless and paperless.

    Concerns were raised by Committee Members about the security of the data embedded in the Maisha Cards.

    Rebecca Tonkei questioned how safe the information was, to which PS Bitok assured, “The data is safe. Kenyans should not be worried about the safety of their personal information.”

    The PS was also taken to task over the uptake of the school rollout program, emphasizing the importance of ensuring all children receive their IDs before leaving secondary school.

    “Tell us about this school registration rollout programme. How many schools have you done?”

    The PS responded by saying that the Ministry is prioritizing school registration to ensure that students obtain their IDs before they leave secondary school, allowing for a smoother transition to university.

    New applicants

    The Committee also questioned why the Huduma Number project, meant to streamline national identification, had stalled.

    Bitok explained that the project had failed due to a lack of proper anchoring within a government department but noted that the equipment from the project was now being used to support the issuance of Maisha Cards.

    Members of the Education Committee also learnt that new applicants for the Maisha Cards are required to pay Kshs 300, while replacements cost Kshs 1,000.

    In conclusion, the House Committee urged the Ministry to expedite the issuance of Maisha Cards, stressing that any further delays could severely impact their access to higher education funding.

    Source: Parliament

  • Gov’t restores ID Card issuance, 476,000 remain uncollected

    Gov’t restores ID Card issuance, 476,000 remain uncollected

    Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, has reassured the public that the Government is making significant progress in clearing the backlog of National ID card applications.

    Through a statement, Bitok stated that recent legal hurdles had temporarily affected the issuance of third-generation National ID cards, also known as Maisha Cards.

    He noted that the High Court had issued a conservatory order on July 25, 2024, halting the issuance of these cards.

    However, following a government appeal, the court lifted the order on August 12, 2024, allowing the National Registration Bureau (NRB) to resume production.

    By the time the court order was lifted, Bitok revealed, 451,228 applications had already been received by the NRB.

    These included 130,302 new ID requests and 320,926 applications for duplicate cards.

    He added that in the two weeks following the court’s decision, an additional 108,697 applications were submitted to the NRB production centre, leading to a surge in demand.

    “In the past two weeks, we have made significant strides in clearing the backlog. A total of 505,197 National ID cards have been printed, with 162,856 of those being new cards and 344,341 duplicates,” Bitok confirmed.

    He added that only 1,358 applications remain in the processing queue, emphasizing that the NRB has ramped up its capacity to produce 32,000 ID cards per day.

    Additionally, more personnel have been deployed, and a 24-hour service has been introduced to expedite the process.

    However, despite these efforts, Bitok expressed concern over the large number of uncollected ID cards.

    “As of August 26, 2024, 476,167 printed National ID cards are lying unclaimed at registration offices and Huduma Centres across the country. We are urging all applicants to collect their cards promptly,” he said.

    He singled out Nairobi County as having the highest number of uncollected cards, with 55,327 still awaiting collection, followed by Kiambu (37,708), Nakuru (28,581), Kisumu (18,529), Mombasa (17,140), Kisii (15,842), Muranga (13,627), Uasin Gishu (13,155), Kajiado (12,533) and Bungoma (12,053).

    Bitok also encouraged those seeking updates on their ID applications to utilize the toll-free line or reach out through social media platforms provided by the NRB.

    “Toll-free Line: 08000230007, X: Sajili_ID Ke, Facebook: NRB Kitambulisho, Instagram: National Registration Bureau.”

    “The National ID card is a constitutional right and an essential document for every citizen. The Government is committed to ensuring that all eligible applicants receive their cards in a timely manner,” Bitok concluded, assuring the public that the department is working diligently to process all outstanding requests and streamline the issuance process.

  • Gov’t refutes claims linking Maisha Card expiry to election dates

    Gov’t refutes claims linking Maisha Card expiry to election dates

    Government has dismissed claims that the expiration dates of the newly introduced Maisha Card are tied to the timing of general elections.

    In a statement issued Monday, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok clarified that the expiry date has no direct correlation with general election dates.

    Bitok explained that the card’s microchip similar to ATM cards, has a shelf life of 10 years from the date of issuance.

    “The Maisha Card features a machine-readable microchip that contains relevant security features and personal details. Like other documents, such as ATM cards, the microchip has a shelf life of a maximum of ten (10) years from the date of issuance. The expiry date has no direct correlation with the general election date,” he stated

    The clarification comes after Civil Society Organizations raised concerns over the legality and expiration date of the digital identity cards.

    Bitok said that the introduction of Maisha Card seeks to enhance  security of national identification and complies with International Civil Aviation Organization requirements.

    The government rolled out the issuance of Maisha Cards on February 23 to replace traditional IDs.

    So far, 972,630 cards have been issued, with 531,329 being new applications and 441,301 duplicates.

    Holders of the Maisha Card will be required to renew their IDs every ten years without undergoing new biometric registration, although updated photos will be required to reflect changes in facial features.

    “Applicants seeking renewal of expired National ID cards will not be required to undertake fresh biometrics. However, they will retake their passport-sized photos due to potential changes in facial features over the years,” explained Bitok.