The government is set to issue internationally recognized Seafarer Identification Documents (SID) to Kenyans within the next three months.
Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang confirmed the move why appearing before the National Assembly Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee.
PS Kipsang told the committee, chaired by Taita Taveta MP, Lydia Haika, that a sample SID card has already been forwarded to the International Labour Organization (ILO) for approval.
“ILO has provided feedback to be incorporated in the revised sample card. The updated version will feature actual data embedded in both the chip and QR code before being resubmitted to ILO for review,” he said.
The PS told the committee that the State Department had also procured live capture units for the biometric enrolment of seafarers.
“The live capture system will be customized to align with the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) business processes, enabling enrolment and real-time transmission to the central processing system at the National Registration Bureau (NRB),” PS Kipsang
He explained that, unlike the National ID, which serves a domestic purpose, the SID will meet international standards, as it also serves as a travel document for seafarers crossing borders.
The committee members sought clarity on the pending requirements and the rationale behind the three-month timeline.
Kipsang responded by stating that the remaining tasks include completion of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) audit and certification process by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as the acquisition of servers and related network infrastructure to host the seafarers’ database at both KMA and NRB.
He assured the committee that the IDs will be delivered on time.
“We are working closely with ICAO, and the department understands the importance of this document. Within the next three months, it will be ready,” he added.
The SID is an internationally recognized identification and travel document specifically for professional seafarers that allows seafarers to travel for work without a visa, making it easier for them to join their ships, disembark for shore leave in foreign ports, and transit through different countries.
