Kenyans continue to face long waits as over 260,000 government-issued documents sit unclaimed at Huduma Centres nationwide.
Huduma Kenya, in a notice on Wednesday, said the bulk of the uncollected documents are national IDs, with 132,083 ready for collection. This is followed by 88,963 smart driving licences and 40,615 birth certificates. The agency is urging citizens who have applied for these documents to visit the nearest Huduma Centre to pick them up.
“Documents are here! Pass by a Huduma Centre and collect your documents,” the notice read.
The announcement comes amid complaints from citizens who say they submitted applications months ago but have not received their documents. Some reported applying as far back as September 2025.
Huduma Kenya explained that technical issues affecting the National ID system have slowed down processing across the country.
“Kindly note that the National ID system has been experiencing intermittent issues, which have affected processing timelines,” the agency wrote on its X account.
The clarification followed a social media post by a frustrated applicant who said his ID application submitted in September 2025 had not been processed. He questioned how “system issues” could persist for over five months, tagging Huduma Kenya and the Immigration Department.
“How is it acceptable that someone can apply for a crucial document like the National ID in September 2025, and until now, Huduma Kenya still says they have system issues. How do you have system issues for over 5 months?” the user wrote.
The response drew mixed reactions online, with many Kenyans criticizing ongoing problems with government digital platforms.
The delays come even as the government recently launched measures to make ID access easier. Less than two months ago, authorities waived fees for replacing lost ID cards for six months.
President William Ruto, in November last year, encouraged Kenyans without identification cards to take advantage of the fee waiver, noting that the Sh1,000 replacement cost had been scrapped.
“You do not have a reason not to have a national identification card. It is our responsibility and duty as leaders to unite the people of Kenya beyond tribe, religion, and region so that we can work together as one nation with a common destiny,” Ruto said.
Driving licences have also been delayed, prompting complaints from citizens waiting for renewals.
“Driver’s license renewals shouldn’t take months. Mine’s been stuck since September. This isn’t a complex permit; it’s a basic ID that should be granted over the counter. The delay is unacceptable,” X user Enock Musyimi wrote.
Huduma Kenya, responsible for consolidating services from national and county governments through physical centres, digital platforms, and mobile services, assured Kenyans it is committed to improving efficiency and reducing delays.
