Speaking at the Senate of Kenya on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Makueni senator said the delays have caused frustration among many applicants who depend on the national identity card to access essential government services.
Maanzo addressed the matter before the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, where he demanded an official explanation from the government regarding the current status of issuing national identity cards across the country.
According to the senator, many eligible citizens have been forced to wait for long periods before receiving their identity cards, despite having completed the application process.
He noted that in several counties, young people who recently turned 18 and applied for their first IDs are still waiting months later without clear communication from the authorities.
Maanzo said the situation has created widespread frustration, especially among young adults who require the document to take part in important aspects of life such as employment, opening bank accounts, or registering for government programmes.
“The affected persons are greatly impacted, as they are unable to access certain essential government services,” Maanzo told the committee.
He explained that without an identity card, many Kenyans are unable to prove their citizenship when seeking services from government offices or financial institutions.
The delay, he added, has slowed down the ability of many people to fully participate in the country’s social and economic activities.
The senator also expressed concern that the problem appears to be affecting several regions at the same time, suggesting that the issue could be linked to challenges within the national identification system.
Maanzo therefore called on the government to provide a clear explanation on why the delays are happening and what steps are being taken to resolve the situation.
He urged the responsible authorities to act quickly to ensure that citizens receive their documents within a reasonable time.
He further told the committee that national identity cards are not just ordinary documents but a key requirement for many basic services in Kenya.
Because of this, he argued that any delay in issuing them has serious consequences for the affected individuals.
The senator urged the government to improve efficiency in the registration and production process so that Kenyans do not have to wait for long periods before receiving their IDs.