Govt rolls out School-Based ID registration drive for secondary learners

PS Basic Education Julius Bitok before the National Assembly's Education committee on May 13, 2025 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The government has rolled out a school-based national ID registration drive targeting secondary school students who have turned 18.
The programme, which will run throughout the second term from May to August, aims to ensure eligible learners receive national identity cards before completing their studies. 
The initiative is led by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services through the National Registration Bureau and will be carried out directly within schools across the country.
“The goal is to ensure no student misses out on crucial opportunities such as HELB loans, tertiary placement or job access simply because they lack a National ID,” said Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok.
In a circular dated Thursday, May 29, titled Facilitation of School-Based ID Registration Exercise, Bitok directed all regional and county education directors to inform school principals in their jurisdictions to support the implementation.
“The principals and their deputies will act as identification agents for their students in place of the National Government Administration Officers during this exercise,” said Bitok.

He called for close coordination between schools and County and Deputy County Registration Officers to ensure the smooth rollout of the drive.
 The school-based approach is expected to speed up ID issuance, especially in remote areas where access to registration centres is often limited.
Bitok urged principals to identify eligible students and engage local registration offices in preparation for the exercise.
“Once registered, this will enable students access tertiary education placement, job opportunities and financial aid such as HELB loans without delay upon completion of secondary education,” noted  Bitok.
The registration effort is part of broader reforms to digitise and streamline citizen services, with officials viewing it as a possible blueprint for future youth-focused government initiatives.