Summary
National ID cards remain uncollected in significant numbers in Kenya and Sierra Leone, prompting officials to call for action from the public. In Kenya, 476,167 cards are unclaimed, while Sierra Leone’s National Civil Registration Authority is encouraging citizens to retrieve their biometric IDs to support national digital transformation efforts.
In both Kenya and Sierra Leone, significant numbers of national ID cards remain uncollected, prompting officials to encourage applicants to retrieve their cards. As of August 26, 476,167 national ID cards are unclaimed in Kenya, according to Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. Following a High Court ruling lifting a ban on digital ID production, the National Registration Bureau (NRB) has increased its capacity, producing 505,197 cards in just 14 days and processing new requests at a rate of 32,000 cards per day. Nairobi County holds the largest backlog with 55,327 uncollected cards. Bitok urged applicants to collect their ID cards as soon as possible and highlighted the importance of these cards in ensuring constitutional rights and identification. Similarly, in Sierra Leone, Mohamed Massaquoi, Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), has called on citizens to collect their national, non-national, and ECOWAS regional biometric ID cards, citing that many applicants have not retrieved their cards despite being notified via SMS. Some notification messages were sent to incorrect numbers, complicating the process. The NCRA requests all applicants who applied before July 31, 2024, to visit the relevant offices for collection. Additionally, the NCRA advises linking SIM cards to national ID numbers to mitigate fraud risks, with the campaign running from September 1 to November 30, 2024. The promotion of national ID card collection is seen as central to Sierra Leone’s digital transformation efforts.
The issuance and collection of national ID cards play a crucial role in establishing a legal identity for citizens in both Kenya and Sierra Leone. These cards serve various purposes, including access to government services, financial inclusion, and social security. The backlog in card collection poses significant challenges to the effectiveness of identity management systems in these countries. National identity is essential for participation in civic activities and is legally mandated by both national and international frameworks. The response from the authorities highlights the ongoing efforts to improve administrative processes and ensure that citizens have access to their rights.
The uncollected national ID cards in Kenya and Sierra Leone reflect deeper issues involving identity verification and access to personal identification. Both countries are ramping up efforts to address this backlog and enhance identification management while simultaneously encouraging citizens to actively engage in the collection process. The importance of these ID cards transcends mere identification, becoming a gateway to accessing services and rights in an increasingly digital world.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
