National ID Drive Kicks Off: Secondary Students to Register in School-Based Initiative

The Department of Education has launched a country-wide initiative for registering national IDs through schools, focusing specifically on secondary students who are at least 18 years old.

For the first time in several years, the ministry has launched a vigorous initiative aimed at registering IDs among school-aged children.

The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Julius Bitok, has directed all Regional and County Directors of Education to inform secondary school principals about facilitating the process as per his official instruction.

The activity will take place throughout the current second academic term, from May to August 2025, as the administration anticipates enrolling numerous young individuals nationwide.

The project, led by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services via the National Registration Bureau, is designed to guarantee that qualifying students obtain their National Identity Cards prior to finishing secondary school.

"This program aims to guarantee that Kenyan students reaching the age of 18 get their National Identity Cards while they are still enrolled in school. This will allow them to easily obtain places in higher education institutions, secure employment opportunities, and receive financial assistance like HELB loans without any delays," states the notice issued on May 29.

To make the process more efficient, school principals or their deputies will act as identification agents for their students instead of National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs).

The NGAO officials typically handle the verification and identification of Kenyan citizens who are aiming for ID registration.

At both the regional and county administrative tiers, education authorities have received instructions to collaborate effectively with County and Deputy County Registration Officers so as to guarantee the smooth execution of the enrollment process throughout every secondary school.

The administration believes that this initiative could help minimize postponements in tertiary education due to insufficient national ID papers, especially for students aiming to swiftly move from academic settings into advanced studies or employment opportunities.

Nevertheless, this step is being taken as political figures seek to engage the younger population in anticipation of the elections scheduled for 2027, where newly eligible voters among the young adults will likely sign up following their acquisition of national ID cards.

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