NIRA rolls out issuance of national IDs

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has earmarked 15 days for a nationwide issuance of National IDs.

The agency said in a press statement yesterday that the exercise will run from November 23 to December 7, adding that the IDs will be issued at the sub-county level in all districts.

“Members of the public who registered but have not received their national IDs are encouraged to check for their details with the area LC1 chairpersons before reporting to the designated issuance centres,” NIRA said in the statement.

The authority said children who registered during the ‘learners programme’ will be getting their IDs .

“We also wish to inform the public that children who registered under the Registration of Learners programme and had made 16 years at the time, shall be issued with their National IDs during this exercise,” the press statement read.

Learners’ category

The national IDs of learners in this category will be issued at the sub-counties under which their respective schools fall, according to NIRA.

“Those below 16 years may continue to pick their National Identification Numbers (NINs) from the respective district offices under which their schools fall or from the respective head teachers to whom their NIN lists were made available,” the statement read further.

The agency said all their offices remain open and operational to provide continuous National ID registration services as well as birth, death and adoption order registrations.

The Covid-19 pandemic and cases of infection among workers at the agency has been frustrating people who needed the services as some of the offices were shut.

Mr Gilbert Kadilo, the public relations manager at NIRA, said the issuance exercise is aimed at taking services closer to the communities to minimise difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 According to the Electoral Commission, for one to be a voter,  they must be a citizen, and that citizenship must be verified by NIRA.