Kenya ID Card
In Kenya, national Identity Cards – Kenya ID Card are issued in line with the Registration of Persons Act CAP 107, Laws of Kenya and an Act of Parliament that make provision for the registration of persons and for the issue of identity cards possible.
Kenya National Identity Card – How to Check Kenya ID Card Status
The department of National Registration Bureau has extended its online services where its customers can check ID Card Status online without visiting the office of registration. Click here for more information and Check ID status.
Check ID Status using SMS service
With a working phone, working SMS plan and a minimum of KEs. 5 are both required to help in the inquiry process. In case of a delay, resent the message and wait for up to three days before attempting again. Contact the Identity card service providers at info@identity.go.ke for any further queries in case all inquiries fail.
Check ID Status using online service
Checking the status of Kenya’s national identity card can as well be done online apart from using the SMS service and physically visiting the district office. The online service portal can now be accessed at http://www.identity.go.ke/search.html. To find out the ID status through the fore mentioned site, the applicant will essentially be required to give details such as the 9 digits serial code printed on the waiting card. The waiting card is given when the applicant first applies for an ID for the first time or when making a renewal. Kenya National Registration Bureau is held responsible for processing and managing the identity of al Kenyans through National Identification numbers. Kenyan ID application services can now be accessed with ease through various Huduma Centres located strategically in all counties.
Kenya’s national identity card has become a necessity for people to reach various services offered by governmental and non-governmental institutions. www.identity.go.ke status offers a reliable avenue for people to learn about their applications in the comfort of their homes. Kenya is now undergoing thorough a digital revolution in which essential services can now be accessed at ease online. Registration of persons Kenya has attracted several people to confirm their citizenship through national identification. Identity go ke search controls the residence and entry of foreigners into the country. The office of immigration restrictions first instilled in 1906 has continually served as a pillar of regulating Kenyan nationalism. Tracking the status of identification processing has long been hampered by lengthy manual rules, thanks to the later digitization of the process.
Check if Your ID is Ready for Collection
The procedure on how to check if your ID is ready for collection in Kenya has now become simpler. Though it is not easy to acquire a national identification number and citizenship in Kenya. It is even harder to prove the status of the ID application without using a reliable database. Some applicants wait for long only to become disappointed upon unpredictable processing failures and errors. Such untimely errors can sometimes be costly and disappointing to applicants. According to the government, several identity cards still remain un-collected simply because the owners are not knowledgeable about the process of checking the application status. As a result, identification cards overstay at the collection point longer than it is necessary.
A good number of identity cards still remain un-collected simply because the owners are not knowledgeable about the process of checking the application status. As a result, identification cards overstay at the collection point longer than it is necessary. After completing the application process, Kenyan wait for their national identification cards for up to 12 months. As part of the government initiative, National card processing now takes a shorter period, for this reason, it is imperative for people to learn to find out if their personal cards are ready for collection and in what station.
Making regular trips to find out the status of ID processing through the District officer is costly and time-consuming. Most trips made for similar inquiries are often slapped with disappointments with common pleas to exercise patience and at times requests for fresh applications. Using SMS service to check the readiness of the identification card is now more desirable and convenient at a cost-friendly fee. As well using the SMS service, applicants can use online services to find out the readiness of their identification cards.
Technology has made it possible for such services to become accessible by simply accessing the internet regardless of the locality and time. The processing duration for national identification cards takes up to 8 weeks. It is advisable for applicants to start tracking their ID applications after 4 or 5 weeks on submitting all the required forms. Applicants should take a good care of the waiting card because it is important in finding out the status of the real ID. The waiting card is equally crucial because it is potentially used for all national functions as with the original identification card.
Kenya ID Number Search
If checking online, one will need an internet connection to connect to http://www.identity.go.ke/search.html. Here, they will be required to enter the first nine digits of the serial number of their identity card.
Types of Kenya ID Card Registration:
There are four (4) types of categories of Kenya National Identity Card registration as listed below:-
1. Initial Registration
2. Replacement Registration
3. Duplicate Registration
4. Change of Particulars
Categories of Forms that are completed when registering for ID in Kenya
- Reg. 136A: Filled by persons Not Previously Registered
- Reg. 136C: Filled by all applicants for the various registrations.
- RIS I: Replacement Information Sheet is filled by persons applying for the Replacement Registration.
- Reg. 101: Used to capture fingerprint impressions of the applicant.
- Reg. 105: Filled by persons applying for the Change of Particulars registration.
- Reg. 103(Amended 1995): Application for Registration Certificate issued to the applicant and will surrender it in exchange for a new identity card (Rule 9(3) The Registration of Persons Act).
- Rejection Statement: Sent to the applicant via his registration office stating the reason for rejecting his application
The Kenya National Identity Card is crucial to citizenship in Kenya and somehow determines the extent to which an individual enjoys his/ her fundamental rights and freedoms within our borders. The law provides that a person may be required by an authority to produce a Kenya ID card when applying for the grant of any license, permit or other documents, or for the exercise of lawful or judicial functions.
The law, therefore, makes it mandatory for all Kenyans who are 18 years and above to register and be issued with national identity cards. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal offense.
Information contained in the Kenya National Identity Card
The Registration of Persons Act gives the Principle Registrar powers to establish a register of all persons in Kenya that will contain the following information for each person:
- Registration number
- Name in full
- Sex
- Declared tribe or race
- Date of birth or apparent age, and place of birth
- Occupation, trade or employment
- Place of residence and postal address
- Finger and thumb impressions, and in case of missing fingers and thumbs, palm or toe and toe impressions
- Date of registration
- Any other particulars as may be prescribed
How to Apply For Kenyan Id Online
- Persons who qualify for this service. -Kenyan citizens who have never been issued with an Identity Card.
- Requirements. Proof in support of age, names and place of birth:(any of the following)
- Birth certificates
- Religious Certificates
- School leaving Certificates
- Age assessment certificate from a medical officer of health.
- Child health card
- Notification of birth
- Letter of administrative officer-Chief/Assistant Chief
- Sworn Affidavits for late registration
- Proof in support of citizenship.
- A parents ID card for Kenyans by birth
- Certificate of registration as a Kenyan citizen (Kenyan by registration or naturalization)
Change of Particulars in Kenyan ID
Changes 1,000
- Persons who qualify for this service. A person holding an ID card can change from one civil status to another e.g. Change of name upon marriage, change of location, additional name etc.
- Requirements:
- A combination of any of the following documents depending on the type of change:-
- Marriage Certificate
- Deed Poll
- School leaving Certificates
- Sworn affidavits
- Confirmation letters from the administrative office
- Birth Certificate
- Copy of parents ID card
- Parental consent to marriage
- Divorce Certificate
Identity Card in Kenya as per Kenyan Constitution 2010
To actualize the new constitution and breathe life into some of the changes, two new laws have been enacted, ultimately bringing into effect the changes envisaged by the constitution towards issues of dual citizenship and immigration. This has been a very controversial issue, which contributed to the migration of white settlers immediately after Kenya got her independence, as they were not ready to renounce their British citizenship.
In the last few years, the Immigration ministry has been confronted by unprecedented demand for birth certificates as hundreds of thousands of primary school candidates sought the document, after the Kenya National Examination Council made it a mandatory requirement for one to be allowed to sit for their school final examinations. Nevertheless, this was somehow surmounted and prompted the introduction of a new plastic national identity card even as the country inched closer towards the introduction of a third-generation, machine-readable national identity card, which has enhanced more security measures.
The national identity cards crisis which saw millions of eligible youths go for months without the vital document has been resolved and processing commenced where an estimated 50,000 pieces are being processed per day. This has necessitated the government to change the material used for the production of the National ID, from the traditional paper-based material to plastic form. This change has been necessitated by the unavailability in the world market of material for ID production, as a result of technological changes.
The cost of producing the paper card has been prohibitive, where producing one-piece costs Kshs 1, 500 ($17. 24) as opposed to developing countries where the production cost is as low as Kshs 280 ($3.21). Ironically production of an automated teller machine (ATM card), which has more security features costs about Kshs 400 ($4.59). The design of the national identity card has not been altered in the new-look issue, although the plastic card has more enhanced security features. The introduction of the new-look card has also not invalidated the current (paper-based) one. The government, however, stresses that the plastic card should not be confused with the much-anticipated third-generation identity Card variously referred to the as smart card, which is still in the pipeline.
Kenya is planning to phase out the current second-generation cards which Will be replaced with a new type with a microchip containing more details of the holder in a bid to make it hard for counterfeiters to forge. This new card will also make it easy to transmit data in real-time as it will be machine-readable. Towards this end, the ministry of immigration has already procured two new machines in readiness for the production of the third generation cards. The national identity card, a prerequisite in key formal transactions in private and public offices as a form of identification has been in very high demand. In an unprecedented move, the new Kenyan identity cards were launched in London, which was also inaugurated as national identity cards issuing office in December 2011.
The launch of the new ID card happened at a time when the country was experiencing a backlog of two million IDs as the daily production was 25,000. The government has already started addressing the national identity cards crisis by acquiring a new machine, which has a production capacity of 60,000 units per day. It is expected that the department issued an estimated 12 million identity cards as the country went to the polls on March 4, 2013, when electoral authorities expected the number of voters to reach 22 million.
To hasten the process, the processing of national identity cards has been stepped up in all the 529 stations across the country where 4, 000 members of staff are involved in the process. The department of Immigration has also opened new border points in a bid to hasten the issuance of passports formerly concentrated in Nairobi and a few selected towns leading to congestion and backlog of applications. The new border points are Adapal, Mbita, Muhuru Bay, Sand River, Vanga point. Other points recently opened are Ngomeni and Wajir airport. The ministry plans to open additional border points at Mulwanda, Kolboi, Amuma, Dif. Elwak, Rhamu, Mela Mari and Banga port. There are proposals to have extra points in Tondenyang, Kibish, Lokiriama, Sio Port, and Buteba. All the existing and new entry points are supposed to operate from 6.30am to 6.30pm.
At the same time, the ministry has a decentralized issuance of passports by upgrading the Nakuru and Embu offices. The elevation of these offices has eased the burden of Kenyans in South Rift and Upper Eastern wishing to travel out of the country to secure travel documents without having to travel to Nairobi to access the documents. The new offices will also offer other services, visas, and citizenship applications. The stations have been kitted up with Kshs40 million worth of equipment donated by the International Organisation (IOM) to help secure Kenya’s border points. The equipment includes a passport reader, Passport Atlas, PD 350 forgery detection system, fingerprint readers, photocopier machines, printers, maps, and magnifiers. This will improve migration services and secure border points from human trafficking and counter-terrorism activities.
The collaboration between Kenya and IOM includes the establishment of a mobile border processing unit (MBPU), the first of its kind in the East Africa region. The MBPU comprises a mobile processing Unit and two patrol vehicles operating along the porous Kenya-Somalia border and at sites with no presence of immigration infrastructure or officers.
The unit will also be used as a mobile office for operating along main migratory routes and can effectively help detect, identify and intercept any kind of irregular immigration or transnational crime. The department has undertaken other projects which include communication centers and equipment for the forgery detection unit at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
These communication centers have been established at the Immigration headquarters in Nairobi, the regional Immigration office in Mombasa, at the border with Somalia at Kiunga and the border with Tanzania at Lunga Lunga. It is estimated that the establishment of the communication centers will enhance effective communication and flow of information between the points of entry and the headquarters.
Installation of radio communication equipment in the Immigration offices in Mombasa, Kiunga and Lunga Lunga is almost complete. The equipment and well-trained officers will facilitate effective communication between the various communication centers. The ministry of immigration’s role was somehow expanded the department of Refugees (DRA) officially took over the Reception and Registration of all refugees and asylum seekers in the country from UNHCR from March 1, 2011.
Consequently, all asylum seekers entering Kenya are now being received, screened and the designated areas of Dadaab refugee camps, Kakuma refugee and Shauri Moyo offices for urban refugees or asylum seekers. Shortly before Kenya launched an offensive against Insurgents in Somalia, Dadaab refugee camp bursting at the seams with its 400,000 refugees expanding daily as hunger-stricken asylum seekers streamed into the country the strife-torn Somalia. This is in a camp originally meant for only 90,000 refugees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kenya National Identity Card
How do I know if my ID is ready for collections in Kenya?
Go to www.obywatel.gov.pl and find the “ID” tab. Enter the number featured in the confirmation of submitting the application. The answer will be immediately displayed on the screen.
How long does it take to get an ID in Kenya?
The processing duration for national identification cards takes up to 8 weeks. It is advisable for applicants to start tracking their ID applications after 4 or 5 weeks on submitting all the required forms.
How can I check my national identity card?
Visit NIMC center: https://touch.nimc.gov.ng/ Then click the proceed button. Now, fill in your first name, last name and your NIMC tracking ID and hit the ‘check now button
What is needed to apply for an ID in Kenya?
- Hence for one to apply for a Kenyan ID they need to have the following.
- Original birth certificate and a photocopy of the birth certificate. …
- The identity cards of your parents and a photocopy of the same.
- Two passport size photos.