Ombudsman Calls for Decentralised ID Distribution to Sub-County Offices Across Kenya

The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) is pressing for the decentralisation of identification document distribution to sub-county offices nationwide, aiming to alleviate persistent delays in issuance and collection. 

Ombudsman Florence Dulo highlighted the initiative in Nyeri on Tuesday, underscoring the urgent need to reform the current system, which he criticised for its inefficiency and limited accessibility for many Kenyans. The CAJ's proposal comes amid growing concerns about the substantial backlog of uncollected national IDs and driving licences at Huduma Centres.

The Mount Kenya region alone has over 25,000 unclaimed national IDs, with 6,000 being first-time applications. Dulo attributes these delays to systemic shortcomings in the notification process and logistical bottlenecks that impede timely access to essential documents.

To address these issues, the CAJ is collaborating with the Registrar of Persons to ensure that completed IDs are delivered to sub-county levels. This would allow local chiefs, familiar with the applicants, to facilitate distribution more effectively. 

Dulo notes that while text message notifications are standard practice, their unreliability necessitates exploring alternative communication channels. The Ombudsman's office is also engaging with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to resolve network challenges that hinder driving licence verification. 

These technical issues have left numerous applicants unable to access services reliant on validated credentials. Beyond logistical reforms, Dulo emphasises the need for a coordinated public awareness campaign by both national and county governments to promote timely registration. 

Identification documents are crucial not only for electoral processes but also as gateways to essential services such as healthcare registration, higher education financing, and inheritance claims. Dulo says that the Registrar of Persons identified late registration as a significant challenge, urging citizens over 18 to prioritise obtaining their IDs.

The push for decentralisation aligns with the Ministry of Interior's recent announcement to deploy portable Mobile Live Capture Units to marginalised communities. These battery-powered units will electronically capture biometric data, expediting ID processing within three days and potentially reaching underserved populations more effectively.