Kenyans are facing a growing national ID card issuance crisis, with thousands left waiting due to the court-imposed halt on the new digital ID project called Maisha Namba.
Since November 2023, the court injunction on Maisha Namba has disrupted the regular ID issuance process.
Applications have piled up, exceeding 600,000 according to the Daily Nation’s “Broken government services” report.
Reports note that 10,000 individuals apply for a new identification card every day while 5,000 apply for duplicates.
“While logistical issues like printer breakdowns and material shortages typically cause delays in Kenyan ID card issuance, a new challenge has emerged: a court order halting the production of third-generation IDs. This has resulted in an unprecedented backlog, leaving thousands of applicants waiting in limbo. In contrast to the usual logistical hiccups, the current situation stems entirely from a legal challenge. The ongoing court case has put a freeze on the production of the newer ID cards, leaving the system unable to process new applications or print existing ones.”
Kenyans have reported facing difficulties accessing government services and encountering hurdles in the private sector without their IDs.Citizens express frustration and urge a swift resolution, highlighting the importance of IDs for daily life.
The Interior Ministry acknowledged the backlog, citing a system configured for the now-suspended Maisha Namba.”We are facing a backlog in the printing of IDs as we had configured the systems in readiness of Digital IDs.”
It is worth noting that the High Court classified the case as “urgent,” promising a mention on February 6th to secure a judgement date.
As of now, a finalized judgement date remains unknown.