Gov't targets prisoners, border counties, students in ID registration drive for health insurance access

Speaking at the Kajiado Prison during the launch of the exercise on Thursday, Immigration and Citizens Services Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok said the initiative will enhance access to medical insurance under the Social Health Authority. The drive will also leverage the recent abolition of ID vetting to expedite the registration process.

“Vetting and other historical disadvantages discouraged many eligible Kenyans from acquiring IDs. We now want them to take advantage of the President’s directive and obtain their identification documents without unnecessary hurdles,” said PS Bitok at Kajiado Prison.

The registration drive follows President William Ruto’s decision last month to disband ID vetting committees in 22 counties along national borders. The President cited the move as a step towards eliminating discrimination, corruption, and unnecessary delays in obtaining IDs.

On Thursday, the President further directed the waiver of the Ksh300 registration fee for first-time ID applicants, reinforcing his commitment to ensuring all eligible Kenyans have access to identification.

“Discrimination in accessing IDs must stop. I have directed that all qualified Kenyans should get their identification documents without any charges,” President Ruto stated in Lang’ata, Nairobi.

In Kajiado, PS Bitok, while addressing residents at the KCB grounds, urged them to take advantage of the fee waiver and register for IDs, which are essential for accessing eCitizen and other government services. He also clarified that individuals who were previously subjected to vetting would no longer need to travel to their counties of origin to apply. Instead, all eligible applicants can now obtain a Maisha Card from any National Registration Bureau office or Huduma Center across the country.

Additionally, the registration of prisoners is being facilitated through a collaborative effort between the ministries of Interior and Health. This initiative will enable inmates to access affordable healthcare by securing identification documents, particularly for first-time applicants and those in need of replacements.

For High school students the government is building on an earlier initiative introduced last year in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, ensuring that all eligible Form Four students graduate with national IDs. According to PS Bitok, over 800,000 high school students successfully registered for IDs in 2024.