The government has confirmed that Kenyans seeking to obtain smart driving licences can submit their biometric data through 15 Huduma Centres across the country.
In a statement, Huduma Kenya confirmed that the new arrangement was made after the agency entered into an agreement with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
Huduma services, where biometric services will be available, include GPO (Nairobi), Kibra, Mombasa, Nyeri, Garissa, Kisumu, Machakos, Embu, Meru, Kakamega, Eldoret, Thika, Kericho, Nakuru, and Kisii.
This means that drivers can now visit these Huduma Centres to provide their biometrics, including fingerprints, digital photographs, and a signature for their licences.
"Smart Driving Licence biometric services are now available at select Huduma Centres. Get it now," Huduma Kenya stated.
The smart driving licence replaced the traditional paper licences with a secure, chip-enabled plastic card, which enhances security and efficiency by storing driver information on a chip.
The cards are linked with NTSA's Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS), which helps in updating driver records.
After the driver applies for this licence through NTSA's online TIMS portal, he/she will be required to book a physical appointment at the Huduma Centres for the biometrics and can then collect and print it at either NTSA's offices or the Huduma Centres.
The announcement comes four days after Huduma Kenya, in a statement on Wednesday, September 10, urged all Kenyans who applied for driving licences, identification cards, and birth certificates to collect them from Huduma Centres across the country.
According to Huduma Kenya, 57,444 driving licences had already been processed, with 22,524 birth certificates and 82,506 identification cards ready for collection.
According to the agency, an ID and birth certificate application takes about 2 weeks for processing, while a smart driving licence takes up to five days for processing.
"Your government documents are ready for collection. Visit any of our 59 Huduma Centres nationwide and pick them today," the statement read.