The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services derives its mandate from the Constitution of Kenya and the latest Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, which defines its functions, institutions, and structure. The Department plays a critical role in the management of national identity, vital records, and citizen services that are fundamental to governance, security, and service delivery.
The Department’s core functions as stipulated by the Executive Order include:
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Registration of births and deaths in line with the Registration of Births and Deaths Act;
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Registration of persons, issuance of identification documents, and maintenance of the National Primary Data Registers for Citizens and Foreign Nationals;
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Formulation and implementation of policy on the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) and development of the Digital ID (Maisha Namba);
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Coordination and oversight of e-Citizen services to enhance access to government services;
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Management and oversight of the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS) and ensuring inter-agency data integrity;
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Implementation of Citizenship and Immigration policies, including regulation of the movement of persons, border management, and enforcement of immigration laws;
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Implementation of refugees’ and asylum seekers’ policies in line with national and international obligations;
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Collaboration with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies on the collection and validation of primary citizen data.
This mandate is also grounded in the Constitution of Kenya, which recognizes the right of every individual to registration of births and deaths and emphasizes the importance of accessible and adequate identification documents as provided for under Article 12. The Constitution guarantees that no citizen is denied this right and also empowers the State to regulate the entry and exit of persons in the interest of national security and good governance.
