The government is set to begin issuing national identity cards within three days in marginalized counties through the use of mobile registration machines, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.

Speaking on Wednesday during a visit to Lodwar, Murkomen said the machines, called Mobile Live Capture Units, are portable, battery-powered devices that electronically capture the biometric data of applicants and transmit it for immediate processing.

The initiative aims to address long-standing delays in ID registration in areas where residents face barriers such as poor infrastructure and insecurity.

"I assessed the piloting of the Mobile Live Capture Unit, a portable battery-powered machine that captures data of ID applicants and relays it electronically for processing. After testing, the machines will be deployed to marginalized counties," Murkomen said.

He revealed that the pilot phase is currently underway in Turkana County, where over 400,000 adults above 18 years still lack identity cards.

"Many pastoral communities in Kenya have difficulties accessing essential government services. In Turkana County, for example, close to 400,000 people of adult age don't have IDs. Applicants registered through this system will receive their ID cards in three days," he added.

Once fully rolled out, the machines will be distributed across several counties that have historically been underserved. These include Turkana, Garissa, Mandera, Kilifi, Wajir, Taita Taveta, Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu, Lamu, West Pokot, Tana River, Narok, and Kwale.

In Kenya, the national ID card is a crucial document that confirms citizenship and is required to access essential services such as healthcare, education, employment, and banking.

The Interior Ministry’s plan follows growing attention on local innovations to improve service delivery.

Last week, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff announced that his administration is planning to launch a ‘Mombasa Resident’s Card’, aimed at easing access to county services like health and education at reduced rates.

Speaking during a public forum on July 10, the governor said the initiative will be subject to public participation and will feature biometric and residence details."Each year, we spend over KES 130 million in hospital fee waivers to ensure no Mombasa resident is left behind. To make this support more sustainable and targeted, we are proposing the Mombasa Resident’s Card — your key to discounted rates across County public services," he said.