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Immigration opts for plastic ID cards as paper costs rise
A government administration officer displays some of the uncollected national identification cards in Majengo at the coast. The Immigration ministry will issue plastic identity cards (ID) to avoid disruptions following a global scarcity of a special paper used to print the second-generation documents. AFP
The Immigration ministry will issue plastic identity cards (ID) to avoid disruptions following a global scarcity of a special paper used to print the second-generation documents.
“Our vendors have found it harder to source for the printing paper because of scarcity and higher prices and we had to take up a cheaper and more available option,” said Mumia Kisavuli, the deputy director of national registration at the ministry.
The plastic ID cards will retain security features in the current paper-based documents. “The essence of this is to ensure the taxpayer is not battered with additional costs of procuring the extremely expensive paper while ensuring the issuance of IDs is not disrupted,” Mr Kisavuli said. He did not provide the specific variations in costs that led to the decision to take up plastic IDs.
Besides the new challenges with sourcing printing material, the government is currently under pressure to clear a massive backlog of ID applications following a tussle earlier this year between the Office of the President and the Immigration ministry over printing of national identity cards.
ID cards are critical in business transactions and most applicants also look up to participating in the 2012 General Election. Printing of national identity cards was suspended for almost a year following the expiry of Teluse Security Limited’s contract in June, 2010. The company had handled the contract for 15 years.
The company’s contract was, however, restored following a decision by Cabinet in May this year, after the number of pending applications swelled and reached close to one million.
The government had been reluctant to renew the contract on a temporary basis and wanted to identify a firm that would print third generation ID cards.
“The plastic cards should not be confused with the third generation IDs. This is only a measure to address the challenges brought by the market forces on availability of the normal paper,” Mr Kisavuli said.
The planned new electronic identity cards will be equipped with a microchip containing the holder’s details to make it hard for counterfeiters who have been targeting non-Kenyans. The IDs will also now have colour photographs.
The third-generation national ID card system is expected to increase efficiency in the issuance process by allowing data transmission in real time.
