The government has officially commenced a mass nationwide ID registration drive targeting secondary school students who have turned 18 years old.
Spearheaded by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services through the National Registration Bureau (NRB), the exercise aims to ensure eligible students receive their IDs before completing high school.
In an official notice to educators dated May 29, Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok argued that the process was necessary as it allows students smoother access to tertiary education, job opportunities, and financial aid such as HELB loans.
"The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, through the National Registration Bureau (NRB), intends to undertake a mobile National ID registration drive targeting eligible students in secondary schools during the current (second) school term (May–August 2025)," the statement read in part.
The exercise, set to run from May to August, will take place within secondary schools, removing the need for students to visit registration centres.
Principals and deputy principals have been assigned new responsibilities as official identification agents, replacing National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) in verifying the students' identities.
"You are, therefore, requested to urgently notify all secondary school principals within your jurisdiction to collaborate with County and Deputy County Registration Officers for the successful implementation of the exercise in their schools," Bitok directed.
According to the government, many students face delays in obtaining IDs after completing secondary school, affecting their ability to apply for college placements, bursaries, and government-supported loans.
By conducting the registration on school premises, the initiative seeks to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and ensure early access to national documentation.
Secondary schools will need to organise and facilitate the registration process within their premises, ensuring eligible students are documented.
The move comes at a time when there is tension surrounding ID registration following President William Ruto's recent directives to remove extra vetting for ID registration in border counties.
Kenyans argued that the president's move to remove extra vetting before issuance of national documents like birth certificates and IDs was a move pointed towards altering the upcoming 2027 elections.
