Kenya's government, led by Julius Bitok, the principal secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, unveiled plans to issue three million digital national IDs and one million biometric passports before the end of the year.

The decision aims to streamline access to essential identity documents, boost revenue through eCitizen services, and digitise 46 million birth and death records. With two new passport printing machines, waiting time is expected to be reduced to under 14 days, doubling the previous year's output. New passport offices will also open in Bungoma, Garissa, and Nyeri.

Bitok also revealed plans to enhance digital government services, raising the current 16,000 offerings to 20,000. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to expedite the registration of around 200,000 refugees as part of the government's broader initiatives.

Why does it matter?

The government's action comes as a response to a backlog in producing national IDs and passports in Kenya caused by a court order pausing the new Maisha Namba digital ID issuance. Around 733,000 Maisha IDs have been issued, which are vital for everyday transactions.