Governor Abdulswamad Proposes Resident's Card for Mombasa Locals

Processed IDs at Nyayo House in Nairobi County.
Processed IDs at Nyayo House in Nairobi County.
Photo
Julius Bitok

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff has revealed that the county is in the process of creating the 'Mombasa Resident’s Card', which will act as an identity card to prove that one is a resident of the county.

Speaking at a public meeting on Thursday, July 10, the county chief stated that the cards will be created and distributed if the residents of Mombasa give the green light through a public participation process, which is expected to begin soon.

According to the governor, the card will enable residents to receive discounts when accessing essential services such as healthcare and education.

Abdulswamad added that the cards, which will contain an individual’s biometric information as well as other details like their birthplace and residence, will be essential in eliminating corruption and fostering transparency in the county’s service delivery.

Mombasa county governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir and other county officials
Mombasa county governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir and other county officials on Thursday, September 22, 2022
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"Each year, we spend over KES 130 million in hospital fee waivers to ensure no #Mombasa resident is left behind. To make this support more sustainable and targeted, we are proposing the Mombasa Resident’s Card — your key to discounted rates across County public services," the governor said.

"If you have the card, the County Government of Mombasa will ensure that you receive a discount when seeking healthcare through SHA without any problem, and also when we are giving out education bursaries and other things, we will first verify if you are a resident of the county," he added.

In Kenya, an ID card serves as proof of citizenship and enables one to access government services, employment, and financial institutions, among others.

Earlier this year, the government confirmed that the government had kickstarted the process of issuing IDs to secondary school students who have turned 18 years old. The process is spearheaded by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services through the National Registration Bureau (NRB).

In a statement on May 29, the Education Principal Secretary, Julius Bitok, said that issuing IDs to students would be essential in ensuring a seamless transition when joining tertiary education, accessing job opportunities, and applying for financial aid.

According to the PS, Principals and Deputy Principals will be responsible for acting as official identification agents.

"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 PS said.

Nairobi School students
Nairobi School students during a past trip by President William Ruto on January 12, 2025.
PCS


 

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