NAIROBI — The Kenyan government has kicked off a national registration drive in secondary schools to ensure students aged 18 and over receive their national identity cards without delay.
In a circular dated 29 May, the Ministry of Education instructed all regional and county education directors to coordinate with the National Registration Bureau. The goal: register eligible students before they leave school.
“This initiative is designed to ensure that Kenyan students who have attained the age of 18 are registered for National Identity Cards while still in school,” said Prof Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary for Basic Education.
The exercise will run throughout the second term and is expected to end in August.
Under the new system, school principals or their deputies will act as official identification agents. This move replaces the usual reliance on local administrators and is meant to streamline the process.
Prof Bitok stressed that the change was long overdue. “We want to remove bureaucratic delays and make it easier for our youth to transition into adult life with the necessary documentation in hand,” he said in a statement.
Possessing a national ID is a legal requirement for many essential services in Kenya, including applying for university, seeking employment, and accessing Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding.
The Ministry hopes that bringing the registration process directly to schools will reduce barriers for young people, particularly those in remote or under-resourced areas.
Education officials have been told to work closely with school heads to ensure the smooth rollout of the programme. Though no issues have yet been reported, previous government initiatives have often stumbled on logistics and poor coordination.
Still, early reactions from school leaders have been positive.
“This will save our students time and travel costs,” said Esther Nduta, a deputy principal at a secondary school in Kiambu County. “We’ve had many who miss out on opportunities simply because they didn’t have IDs on time.”
The Ministry has not indicated how many students are expected to benefit, but estimates suggest tens of thousands turn 18 while still in school each year.
Observers say the plan could also help reduce identity fraud and increase the accuracy of youth population records.
While the success of the initiative will depend on timely cooperation between schools and registration officers, parents and educators alike are hopeful.
“It’s a simple idea,” Ms Nduta added. “But if done right, it could make a real difference.”
