MP Pushes Radical Plan to Register School Students for IDs Before 18 Ahead of 2027 Polls
A fresh proposal by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi could significantly reshape how national identification cards are issued in Kenya, particularly for secondary school students approaching adulthood.
Speaking during a parliamentary committee session on Thursday, April 23, Omondi outlined a plan to allow students to begin the ID registration process while still in school—even before they reach the legal age of 18.
Under the proposed system, students who have already turned 18, or those set to attain the age by August of their final year, would have their biometric data captured and receive their IDs while still in school. Those slightly younger would also be registered in advance, but their cards would only be released once they officially turn 18.
“What we are now saying is that if you are 18 by August of the year you are supposed to leave school, or if you’re already 18, you will present your biometrics and get your identity card while in school,” Omondi said.
He added: “If you are four months to become 18, you will present your biometrics and get your ID when you turn 18. In other words, it will not be released to you until the time you turn 18.”
The legislator argued that the move is aimed at streamlining the registration process while cutting operational costs by handling both current and near-future applicants simultaneously.
“The reason is we want to save cost, so when the registration is being done, you don’t only deal with those who are already 18, but those who will also be 18 in four months’ time, so that their costs are managed,” he explained.
Currently, school-based ID registration is limited to students who have attained the age of 18 by August of their final year, primarily targeting candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The process relies on school principals and their deputies acting as identification agents, replacing the traditional requirement for verification by local chiefs.
The proposal comes amid heightened government efforts to boost ID uptake ahead of the 2027 General Election, where possession of a national ID is a prerequisite for voter registration.
In a bid to accelerate applications, the government recently waived registration fees—previously set at Ksh 300 for first-time applicants and Ksh 1,000 for replacements—with the waiver set to remain in place until August 2027.
However, despite the incentives, officials say hundreds of thousands of uncollected IDs remain at government offices across the country, raising concerns over whether eligible citizens will be able to register as voters in time.
If adopted, Omondi’s proposal could mark a significant shift in Kenya’s identification framework, potentially expanding access while also sparking debate over the timing and management of biometric data collection among minors.
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