The Mombasa County mass National Identity Card (ID) registration exercise is ongoing in Mvita sub-county.
The Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) for national ID registration, launched on Tuesday by Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir, kicked off on Wednesday in Mvita sub-county.
Speaking at the registration centers on Wednesday, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamd Sheriff Nassir said the two-week exercise in partnership with the national government is meant to ensure all Mombasa residents eligible for IDs get them.
“Today, we are in five locations: Tudor, Old Town, Majengo, Shimanzi, and Mwembe Tayari. The reason is we want to decentralize the exercise so that we avoid congestion at the centers and people walking long distances for registration,” said Governor Nassir.
“The target is to ensure we register at least 15,000 people and, given the turnout today, it seems we will reach that target,” he added.
The county will also be covering charges for those replacing their IDs within the mass registration period.
“We are working with the County Commissioner, Registrar of Persons, and the ministry itself to ensure the process is completed quickly and smoothly. We will give dates for collecting the ID cards later,” said Nassir.
Those registering for the national identity cards will get the new digital ID, Maisha Card.
“After this exercise is completed and young people have IDs, next will be ‘skills mtaani‘, where young people will be trained in different skills. If they do well in skills mtaani, and show discipline and commitment, we will give them start-up funds,” said the 001 County Chief.
Speaking during the exercise, Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Nur said getting Identity Cards will help young people get employment.
“It is free of charge for new applicants, for replacement, the county is paying for the charges, so you have no other excuse not to register for an ID. When Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua came with job opportunities from Qatar and other foreign countries, many of our young people missed out because of a lack of IDs,” said CC Nur.
The Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) for national ID registration in Mombasa kicked off on the 7th of May and will be running till the 22nd of May 2025.
“We are going to issue the IDs to all eligible applicants, no matter how many they are. We are starting with Mombasa County, then others will follow later,” said Registrar of Persons Coast Regional Coordinator John Mutinda Kisula.