Gov't targets High School students in ID registration drive

In a statement, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the initiative is designed to ensure the students have access to job opportunities, tertiary education placements and financial aid such as the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) without delay. 

He urged all school principals to cooperate with the County officials to implement the exercise. 

"Please, also inform the principals that for the purposes of this exercise, they or their deputies will serve as identification agents for their students in place of National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs)," the statement read in part. 

The drive forms part of the government's commitment to obtain the critical document to access eCitizen and other State services. 

In March 2025, the government targeted communities living along the borders and prisoners in the registration drive. 

“Vetting and other historical disadvantages discouraged many eligible Kenyans from acquiring IDs. We now want them to take advantage of the Head of State’s directive and obtain IDs," Bitok said at the time while referencing President William Ruto's decree to set aside the registration fees for first-time ID applicants.