NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has issued fresh guidance on how applicants will be notified once their driving licences, national identity cards (IDs), and birth certificates are ready for collection.
In a notice released on Thursday, February 12, Huduma Kenya said members of the public who have applied for the documents will receive direct communication once processing is complete.
According to the agency, applicants will either receive a phone call or a text message notifying them that their documents are ready.
Huduma Kenya emphasised that communication will only originate from official Huduma Centre numbers; 1919 and 020 690 0020, and urged Kenyans to save and recognise the contacts to avoid confusion.
“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,” Huduma Kenya announced.
Fraud warning
The agency cautioned the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters impersonating government officials.
In recent years, scammers have exploited delays in document processing to demand fake “facilitation fees” from applicants.
Huduma Kenya reiterated that collection of processed documents at designated centres does not require any additional payment beyond the official application fees.
Backlog of uncollected documents
The announcement comes amid concerns over a growing backlog of uncollected documents across the country.
Two weeks ago, Huduma Kenya disclosed that approximately 260,000 processed documents remain unclaimed at various centres nationwide.
Official data shows:
- 132,083 National ID Cards
- 88,963 Smart Driving Licences
- 40,615 Birth Certificates
have not been collected despite being ready for issuance.
Huduma Kenya Chief Executive Officer Ben Kai Chilumo urged applicants to pick up their documents promptly, warning that storage capacity at centres is under strain.
“These documents belong to citizens who successfully applied and were duly processed. We encourage them to collect them at their earliest convenience,” he said.
ID registration rollout
The update follows a fresh announcement by the Ministry of Interior regarding the phased rollout of a national ID mass registration exercise, which began earlier this week.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 11, the Ministry said the registration drive will expand nationwide to ensure every Kenyan turning 18 can obtain identification in a timely and affordable manner.
Also Read: Smart driving licence biometric services now at 15 Huduma Centres across Kenya
“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 revealed.
National identification documents are critical for accessing government services, registering for exams, securing employment, opening bank accounts and participating in elections.
Why this matters
Timely collection of processed documents is essential to:
- Reduce congestion at Huduma Centres
- Improve operational efficiency
- Prevent document misplacement
- Enhance service delivery
The government’s latest directive aims to streamline communication while addressing concerns over fraud and administrative backlog.
Applicants are advised to:
- Save official Huduma contact numbers
- Avoid paying unofficial “processing fees”
- Collect documents at the centre where they applied
