Immigration and Citizenship Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced on Monday that Kenyans will now need to renew their National ID Cards every 10 years. This change is part of the newly introduced Maisha Ecosystem, which aims to modernize and secure identification processes.

In a press statement, Bitok explained that the Maisha Card, featuring a machine-readable microchip, has a maximum shelf life of 10 years from the date of issuance. He emphasized that this expiry date is unrelated to the general election date, aligning with international standards observed in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, and France.

Applicants seeking to renew their expired ID cards will not need to undergo fresh biometrics; however, they will need to update their passport-sized photos because of potential changes in facial features over the years.

The introduction of the Maisha Ecosystem also includes enhanced security features and compliance with both regional and international best practices, making it more difficult to forge or tamper with the National ID Cards.