Government Announces New Update On Driving Licenses, National IDs And Birth Certificates

The government has released a comprehensive update clarifying how Kenyans will be notified once their key personal documents, including driving licences, national identity cards (IDs), and birth certificates are ready for collection.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, February 12, Huduma Kenya assured citizens that it has put in place a clear and secure communication system to directly inform applicants as soon as their documents are fully processed.

According to the agency, applicants will receive either a phone call or a text message once their documents are ready for pick-up. The communication will come strictly from officially designated Huduma Centre contact numbers.

The agency emphasised that the only authorised numbers that will be used are 1919 and 020 690 0020. Huduma Kenya urged members of the public to save and familiarise themselves with these numbers to avoid confusion and to ensure they do not ignore legitimate calls regarding their documents.

In its statement, the agency reiterated: “Collect processed documents at Huduma Centres. We will send you a text and also call you from our contact centre only through 1919 or 0206900020 to bring you your document.”

The move is aimed at streamlining communication, improving efficiency, and ensuring that Kenyans receive their essential documents in a timely manner.

Alongside the announcement, Huduma Kenya issued a strong warning to citizens to remain vigilant. The agency cautioned that fraudsters may attempt to impersonate government officials by making calls or sending messages from unofficial numbers.

Applicants have been advised not to share personal details, send money, or respond to suspicious calls claiming to be from government offices. Any communication regarding ready documents, the agency stressed, will strictly originate from the two verified contact numbers.

This step comes amid growing concerns over scams targeting citizens awaiting official documents. The announcement follows closely on the heels of a separate communication by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration regarding the rollout of a nationwide national ID registration campaign.

On Wednesday, February 11, the Ministry confirmed the phased rollout of a mass ID registration exercise, which will initially target selected regions before expanding across the country. The goal is to ensure that every Kenyan turning 18 years old can obtain identification documents quickly, efficiently, and at an affordable cost.

The Ministry underscored the importance of national identification, stating that possessing an ID is fundamental not only for accessing services but also for participating in democratic processes.

“Identity is also the gateway into democracy. With an ID, citizens can register as voters and participate in choosing leaders at every level, from President to Member of County Assembly,” the government stated.

The latest communication also comes barely two weeks after Huduma Kenya disclosed that hundreds of thousands of processed documents remain uncollected at various Huduma Centres across the country. Official data revealed that approximately 260,000 documents are ready but yet to be picked up.

These include; 132,083 National ID Cards, 88,963 Smart Driving Licences, and 40,615 Birth Certificates

Huduma Kenya Chief Executive Officer Ben Kai Chilumo expressed concern over the growing number of uncollected documents. He noted that the situation is placing pressure on storage facilities and affecting efficiency in service delivery across Centres.

“These documents belong to citizens who successfully applied and were duly processed. We encourage them to collect them at their earliest convenience,” Chilumo said.

He further explained that timely collection helps free up space, reduce congestion, and improve overall service turnaround time for new applicants.

With the new communication framework now clarified, the government is encouraging all Kenyans who have applied for identification documents to remain alert for official calls or text messages and to collect their documents promptly once notified.

By tightening communication channels, reinforcing fraud awareness, and accelerating ID registration nationwide, authorities say they are working toward a more efficient, secure, and citizen-centered documentation system.

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