Inside New Plan to Register Students for IDs Before They Turn 18
Suba South Member of Parliament, Caroli Omondi, has introduced a fresh proposal that could significantly change how national identification cards are issued in Kenya, especially for students who are still in secondary school.
Speaking during a parliamentary committee session held on Thursday, April 23, the legislator explained that the new plan is designed to allow students to begin the ID registration process earlier than the current system permits.
His proposal focuses on making the process more flexible and efficient, particularly for learners approaching the age of 18 while still in school.
Under the suggested changes, students who have already turned 18 while still in secondary school would be allowed to register for their national IDs immediately, without waiting until they leave school.
In addition, the proposal also targets students who are in their final year and will turn 18 by August. These learners would also be given the opportunity to submit their biometric details and receive their ID cards before completing their studies.
For students who are slightly younger and have not yet reached the legal age, the proposal introduces a phased approach.
According to Omondi, those who are only a few months away from turning 18—specifically within a four-month window—would still be allowed to undergo biometric registration while in school.
However, in such cases, their identification cards would not be issued immediately. Instead, the cards would only be released to them once they officially reach the age of 18.
Explaining the idea further, the MP emphasized that the goal is to streamline the entire registration process.
By capturing biometric data early, the government would be able to process applications in advance, reducing delays and long queues that are often experienced after students leave school.
This approach, he noted, ensures that young people can access their IDs promptly once they become eligible.
Omondi also pointed out that the proposal is partly driven by the need to cut down on administrative costs.
By registering both current and soon-to-be eligible applicants at the same time, the government can reduce the expenses involved in conducting multiple registration exercises. This would make the process more cost-effective while also improving service delivery.
Currently, the system only allows students who have already turned 18 by August of their final school year to apply for their IDs through school-based registration programs.
Those who do not meet this requirement are forced to wait until they leave school, after which they must go through the standard process that often involves visiting local chiefs or registration offices.
The proposed changes are expected to build on the existing school-based registration system, which mainly targets candidates sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
In this system, school principals and their deputies act as identification agents, verifying student details and helping facilitate the application process.
This has already reduced the need for students to travel to administrative offices, making the process more convenient.
This new development comes at a time when the government is stepping up efforts to increase the number of registered ID holders ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Having a national ID is a key requirement for voter registration, and authorities are keen to ensure that as many eligible citizens as possible are documented in time.
As part of these efforts, the government recently waived the standard fees for ID applications. Previously, new applicants were required to pay Ksh 300, while those replacing lost IDs paid Ksh 1,000.
The fee waiver, which will remain in place until August 2027, is intended to encourage more Kenyans to apply for identification documents without financial barriers.
Despite these measures, a large number of processed ID cards remain uncollected in various government offices across the country.
Officials have repeatedly urged applicants to pick up their IDs, noting that failure to do so could prevent them from participating in important civic processes such as voter registration.
If implemented, Omondi’s proposal could mark a major shift in how Kenya handles ID registration for young people.
By allowing early data capture and aligning the process with the school calendar, the plan aims to make ID issuance faster, more efficient, and more accessible to thousands of students transitioning into adulthood.
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