Kenya clarifies ID issuance to foreigners after uproar
By Emmanuel Rono, June 24, 2026The government has dismissed concerns over the reported issuance of national identity cards to foreigners, clarifying that non-citizens are only issued with alien identification documents.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, explained that the government is enabling foreigners to access essential services, such as SIM cards and telephone registration.
“The government only issues alien ID cards to non-citizens to allow them to access services such as SIM cards and telephone registration,” Kipsang stated.
Issuance of IDs to refugees
He added that refugees are also not issued standard Kenyan national identity cards but instead receive special identification documents tailored to their status.
“Refugees receive special ID cards, not the standard national ID card,” Kipsang said.
The clarification came amid discussions on identity management, passport processing and regional integration within the East African Community (EAC).
Senators raising concerns about ID issuance to foreigners
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana called for a Senate investigation into reports of foreign nationals obtaining Kenyan identity documents, raising concerns about the integrity of the country’s registration and immigration systems.
In a statement sought in the Senate on Thursday, June 11, 2026, Kibwana asked the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to investigate the acquisition of Kenyan identity cards, passports, birth certificates and other citizenship documents by non-citizens.
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The senator called on the committee to examine existing safeguards within the National Registration Bureau, Civil Registration Services and the Immigration Department, and establish whether they are adequate to prevent document fraud.
“This matter raises serious questions about the integrity of our registration and immigration systems. The Committee must establish how foreign nationals are allegedly obtaining Kenyan identity cards, passports, birth certificates and other documents, and what safeguards exist to prevent such fraud,” she said.