35 million IDs issued between 1995 and April 2026 While 489,000 uncollected.
Since the year 1995 the National ID application process evolved from the introduction of the new second generation (laminated card).
On May 2026 the Kenyan government reported that approximately 35 million Kenyans who are eligible to attain the National Identity card as per the Kenyan constitution. As the application process has been shifted to a digital way; the live capture technology that is aimed at issuing out the IDs to 3-4 days.
The government also helped the application process by placing initiatives like;
Free massive registration; as people are at a position to get it at no cost making a massive regestration
Faster processing time; the IDs processing is fast enabling various citizens to apply and collect easily.
The government has warned netizens that failure to collect their IDs could deny them access to crucial government services that requires the identification cards. The services include voting, employment opportunities and registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The Ps secretary Dr. Kipsang has urged all Kenyans who applied for their IDs to visit the respective registration centers and collect the documents as soon as possible. He asked chiefs and assistant chiefs to corporate with the local community to trace applicants who have not collected their IDs.
