Wamuzi News Ke
Senators today stormed the floor in outrage after uncovering that over 400,000 national identity cards remain uncollected at various registration centers across Kenya. The revelation has triggered a high-stakes Senate investigation into administrative failures, possible corruption, and the deeper threat to citizen rights in the upcoming elections.
The Senate’s decision comes amid mounting public frustration that thousands of Kenyans who applied for IDs—essential documents required for voting, access to government services, and legal recognition—have been left in limbo, unable to claim their own identity documents.
The Numbers Exposed: Over 400,000 Cards Gathering Dust.
During a heated Senate session, Mombasa Senator revealed that the uncollected batch is exceptionally large—over 400,000. Officials conceded that the backlog has ballooned due to poor logistics, understaffing at registration centers, and failures in citizen notification.
In a parallel disclosure, Huduma Kenya recently confirmed that more than 82,000 identity cards, 57,444 driving licenses, and 22,524 birth certificates also await collection nationwide—evidence that the challenge extends beyond IDs.
Senate Demands Accountability and Quick Action.
Senate Majority Leader moved swiftly to schedule a special investigation, demanding that the Department of Immigration, Interior Ministry, and Huduma Kenya officials produce reports within 14 days.
The probe will explore:The process used to notify citizens that their IDs are ready.
Reasons for failure in distribution and claiming
Any misappropriation or diversion of uncollected documents
Legal implications for citizens deprived of their identity papers ahead of elections
Opposition senators warned that the backlog could disenfranchise vulnerable groups and distort the electoral process. The Senate threatened to summon relevant CEOs and directors under oath if they fail to cooperate.—
Human Impacts: Lives Held Hostage by Bureaucracy.
For many Kenyans, the failure to collect IDs translates to real-world hardships:Young adults turning 18 remain ineligible to register as voters.
Jobseekers, students, and citizens miss deadlines tied to identity verification.
Dependents risk exclusion from welfare, banking, and mobile services.
A young applicant from Kilifi who had applied for his ID in early 2025 told media that repeated calls and visits to the registration center yielded no explanation or assistance.
