Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen has signaled a major overhaul in Kenya’s immigration and citizen services, unveiling a series of citizen-friendly reforms aimed at making identity documents more accessible and efficient.
In a high-level meeting held Monday morning with Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang and top officials from the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, CS Murkomen reviewed recent achievements and outlined plans for further changes to streamline service delivery.
Key reforms already implemented include:
– Complete abolition of fees for first-time National ID card applicants.
– Removal of extra vetting requirements for ID applicants in border counties, with security standards fully maintained.
– Fast-tracked processing for both National IDs and passports.
– Scrapping authentication fees for birth certificates when applying for IDs or passports.
– Full waiver of charges for duplicate ID cards.
“More changes are in the pipeline to ensure even smoother and faster service delivery to the public,” CS Murkomen stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
The meeting brought together senior officials, including National Registration Bureau Secretary Dr. Christopher Wanjau, Civil Registration Secretary Paul Mwangemi, eCitizen Services Director-General Amb. Isaac Ochieng, Immigration Services Director-General Evelyn Cheluget, Nairobi Regional Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo, Commissioner for Refugee Affairs Mercy Mwasaru, and Secretary Administration Serser Chelulei.
These measures are expected to significantly ease access to essential documents for millions of Kenyans, particularly first-time applicants, border county residents, and those replacing lost IDs. The reforms build on the government’s ongoing push to digitize and decentralize services through platforms like eCitizen.
Kenyans awaiting IDs and passports can now expect shorter waiting times and zero costs for several critical processes, marking a significant step toward more inclusive and efficient public service delivery.
