Kenyans applying for national Identification Cards can now expect to receive them in just ten working days, a significant reduction from the previous wait of at least 21 days.

This announcement was made by Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Monday, September 16, during the World ID celebrations held in Machakos County.

Bitok attributed this swift turnaround to the nationwide acquisition of live capture equipment at Huduma Centres and National Registration Bureau (NRB) county offices.

“It will now take you not more than ten working days from the date of application to get your ID,” Bitok stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improve service delivery.

The celebrations in Machakos were particularly relevant, as the county has over 31,000 eligible youths awaiting registration for their IDs. Previously, a major bottleneck in ID processing was the lack of modern printing facilities.

However, Bitok revealed that a new printer recently acquired by the NRB has boosted printing capacity to 30,000 ID cards per day, tripling previous capabilities.

In light of concerns regarding the new generation IDs, commonly known as Maisha cards, Bitok defended them, explaining that they feature a chip designed to prevent fraud.

“The chip has a shelf life, similar to ATM cards,” he clarified. He also assured that individuals renewing their cards will not have to undergo fresh biometrics, reassuring the public of the legality and compliance of the Maisha cards with international standards.