Marsabit County topped in National Identity Card (ID) applications in the last five years while Wajir County recorded the lowest, the 2026 Economic Survey states.

“In total, the number of applications made increased by 49.1 per cent to 1,509,957, in 2025 with Marsabit County recording the highest percentage increase at 245.6 per cent, while Wajir County registered the highest decline at 22.5 per cent,” the report states.

Nationally, the number of newly produced identity cards increased by 15.1 per cent to 1,225,299 in 2025, with Garissa County recording the highest increase of 103.2 per cent.

During the period under review, there was an increase of 18.7 per cent in the cards collected across all counties with Narok County recording the highest increase at 67.3 per cent.

Last year Nairobi County had 83,839 ID applications followed by Kakamega at 57,988, Nakuru at 51,858, Bungoma at 44,907, Kiambu (41,983), Kisii (41,378), Kitui (35,968), Homabay (35,653) Kisumu (33,133) Meru (32,368), Machakos (32,191) and Kilifi at 32,189

The lowest applications were recorded in Lamu (3,677), followed by Isiolo (4,294) and Samburu (5,898), Taita Taveta (7,157), Tana River (8,217), Tharaka Nithi (11,035), Turkana had 11,041, Wajir (12,947), Laikipia (12,375), 13,438 in Kirinyaga, 14,701 for Garissa, West Pokot (14,246), Nyeri (15,192), Embu (15,335), Elgeyo Marakwet 15,380 and 15,887 for Nyamira.

Other counties had 17,359 for Baringo, 19,096 in Marsabit, 19,731 in Kwale, Nyandarua at 20,832, while 21,789 is for Mombasa, 22,831 in Murang’a, 23,262 in Nandi, 24,526 in Trans Nzoia while Uasin Gishu had 27,781 and Makueni 28,651.

Marsabit’s high number may be attributed the ongoing “Usajili Mashinani” that is being spearheaded by the state department of Immigration and Citizen Services mainly targeting marginalised and pastoralists counties.

National Registration Bureau (NRB) under the department says the exercise is part of the government’s broader effort to streamline national identification registration and bring services closer to communities that have historically faced challenges accessing registration centres.

The programme, launched by the Ministry of Interior in October 2025, seeks to ensure that all citizens obtain the legal documentation required to access essential government services.

Immigration PS Dr. Belio Kipsang says his department is keen on streamlining National ID registration and issuance processes and ensuring a smooth transition from manual to digital registration through the use of live capture machines, in order to guarantee timely and efficient issuance of National Identity documents.

Initially, the campaign targeted 15 counties with historically low identity card registration rates, including Marsabit, Narok, Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet.