Gov’t launches nationwide ID registration drive for secondary students

The government has launched a nationwide ID registration drive targeting secondary school students who have reached the age of 18.

Principal Secretary for Education, Julius Bitok, stated that the initiative set to be implemented during the second term aims to facilitate a smooth transition for students into tertiary education, employment and access to financial aid such as the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

“The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, through the National Registration Bureau (NRB), intends to undertake a mobile National ID registration drive targeting eligible students in secondary schools during the current school term (May-August 2025)”, he said.

“This initiative is designed to ensure that Kenyan students who have attained the age of 18 are registered for National Identity Cards while still in school, enabling them to access tertiary education placements, job opportunities and financial aid such as HELB loans without delay upon completion of secondary education”, he explained.

In a circular dated May 29, Regional and County Directors of Education have been instructed to urgently notify all secondary school principals within their jurisdictions to collaborate with County and Deputy County Registration Officers to ensure the successful implementation of the registration exercise in schools.

Principals and their deputies, in partnership with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), will act as identification agents, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.

“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 PS advised.