Sample of a Kenyan ID. The Ministry of Education has announced registration of students eligible to hold IDs in Secondary Schools. Photo: State Department of Immigration.
The national government through the State Department for Immigration and National Registration Bureau (NRB), will carry out registration drive on the application of National IDs targeting students in Secondary schools who are eligible to poses the ID between May to August.
In a statement released by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education Julius Bitok, the drive is aimed to ensure that Kenyans students at the age of 18 years, are registered to own an ID while still in school.
According to Bitok, this will help them access government funding while preparing to join tertiary institutions, placement in universities and colleges, as well as get jobs after completing secondary school education.
“This initiative is designed to ensure that Kenyan students who have attained the ag of 18 years are registered for National Identity Cards, while still in school, enabling them to access tertiary education placements, job opportunities and financial aid such as HELB loans without delays upon completion of secondary education,” Bitok explained.
Bitok called ton the team to inform principals in all secondary schools across the country to give an ease time to registration officers in the county carrying out the exercise, as well as inform their deputies of them acting as identification agents, in the place of National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs).
“You are therefore requested to urgently notify all secondary principals within your jurisdiction to collaborate with County and Deputy County Registration Officers for the successful implementation of the exercise in their schools. Also inform the principals that their deputies will act as identification agents for students in place of NGAO,” Bitok added.
The move was lauded by the latest defender of Kenya Kwanza government Homabay Town MP Peter Klauma who said President William is delivering on his mandate.
As the program continues, Marsabit County Registrar of people confirmed an increase in the number of new ID applicants in the county, after a declaration by President William Ruto on lifting the vetting committee process during the process of application for first timers, in Garissa, Mandera, Wajir and Isiolo counties.
Currently, one requires the approval of the area chief to verify if they are Kenyans. The registrar also said that the even the older generations have turned out for the process.
