The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has initiated a comprehensive drive to identify and reach Kenyans who have yet to collect their processed National Identity Cards (IDs).

The announcement was made by Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, during a meeting with Mombasa Governor Abdulswahmad Nassir on July 29. The discussion highlighted the significant issue of uncollected government documents in Mombasa County.

Strategy to Trace Uncollected IDs

To address this challenge, the ministry plans to leverage technology and local administrative networks. The approach includes:

  • Automated digital notifications via SMS and email to alert citizens when their documents are ready for collection.
  • Utilization of centralized platforms like eCitizen to allow applicants to track the status of their IDs online.
  • Cross-referencing the Integrated Population Registration Systems (IPRS) database with active taxpayer, voter, and welfare records to verify current residency and improve outreach accuracy.
  • Mobilizing local authorities, including chiefs, assistant chiefs, village elders, and mobile outreach units, to physically locate and inform residents who cannot be reached digitally.

Uncollected ID Statistics

According to Huduma Kenya, over 520,000 National IDs remain uncollected nationwide. Nairobi holds the largest number with 71,060 unclaimed cards, followed by Kiambu (40,141), Nakuru (28,229), Meru (24,893), Mombasa (23,000), and Busia (20,330).

The spike in uncollected IDs is linked to the surge in registrations following the May 2025 waiver on ID fees, which saw 1.7 million new applications across the country.