The Kenyan government has introduced expiry dates for national identity cards, a move it says is driven by the need to comply with international standards.

Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, has explained that this change is in accordance with requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

During a stakeholder engagement on proposed amendments to the Birth and Death Act and the Act for Registration of Persons, Bitok elaborated on the rationale behind this new measure.

"The International requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is that all our documents, identity documents need to have an expiry date in it, including the driving license, and the passport. All these documents have a duration, we are using the template of international standard," Bitok stated.

The newly introduced Maisha card, part of a broader digital identification initiative, comes equipped with a machine-readable microchip.

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This microchip is a crucial feature aimed at enhancing security and digitisation. However, Bitok pointed out that the microchip, similar to those used in ATM cards, has a limited lifespan and becomes less readable over time, which necessitates the inclusion of an expiry date.

"The current ID remains a valid registration document," Bitok reassured, clarifying that existing identification cards will continue to be recognised for the time being.

While the Maisha card introduces advanced features, including a unique Maisha Namba for newborns and first-time ID registrants, Bitok clarified that there will be no mass registration for the Maisha card until the system has been fully stabilised.

He emphasised that the process of obtaining the Maisha Namba will be voluntary, with the government relying on the card’s enhanced features to drive adoption.

“All newborns and individuals registering for IDs for the first time will be issued a lifetime Maisha Namba, which will serve as their registration number for school, NHIF, KRA, and other government services,” he added.

The Maisha Card, introduced in November 2023, represents a significant step forward in Kenya’s digital identification infrastructure.

It is designed to facilitate secure and efficient access to various government services while aligning with international standards.

The inclusion of an expiry date on the card underscores the evolving nature of identification technology and the need for regulations that keep pace with global developments.