NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 26 – The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Musalia Mudavadi has announced significant changes to the Registration of Persons Rules under the Registration of Persons Act, 2024.
Musalia in a legal notice asserted that the new amendments are anchored on modernizing the registration process.
Among the key changes is the introduction of an electronic identity card.
The new rules stipulate that the identity card, as mandated under section 9 of the Registration of Persons Act, will now be issued in an electronic format.
“The identity card issued under section 9 of the Act shall consist of an electronic card in the Form set out in the First schedule to these Rules,”read the legal notice by Mudavadi in part.
“The electronic card issued under this rule may also be presented in a digital or virtual form.”
This move is expected to streamline processes and reduce the risk of identity theft.
Furthermore, the amendments expand biometric data collection which now requires individuals applying for identity registration to provide their facial, thumb, and fingerprint biometric data using prescribed electronic devices.
This biometric data will be recorded digitally, ensuring a more accurate and secure registration process.
Additionally, individuals will receive either a physical or digitally generated certificate following the registration.
In the new changes,the Principal Registrar is now authorized to adopt a unique personal identification number issued under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, or alternatively, assign specific index letters and serial numbers to be included in the identity changes.
Other notable changes include a revision of the fee structure.
This incudes levies on certification of birth and death records, late registrations, and the verification of certificates for both local and international purposes.
For instance, late registration of birth certificates will now incur a fee of Sh500, while foreign registration of birth or death in Kenyan missions abroad will be charged at US$150.
Mudavadi clarified that the changes are part of Kenya’s broader efforts to enhance the efficiency of government services and improve the security and accessibility of personal identification data.
