Newborns in Kenya to get lifetime digital IDs

By Daisy Okiring | Friday, 16 May 2025 – 10:53 AM EAT

In a bold move toward digital governance and streamlined public service, newborns in Kenya will now be issued a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) at birth—a number that will serve them throughout their life and eventually become their death certificate number.

The initiative falls under the government’s Maisha ecosystem, a comprehensive framework designed to modernize civil registration and identity management. The UPI system, launched in October 2023, marks a significant departure from previous practices where vital documents like birth and death certificates were handled separately and manually.

Dr. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, made the announcement during the unveiling of the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS)—a new digital platform replacing the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).

“We are now linking identity from cradle to grave,” said Dr. Kipsang. “The same UPI assigned at birth will be used by students in KEMIS and later serve as their official death certificate number. This will ensure accurate data and eliminate duplication.”

Previously, Kenyans had to apply separately for death certificates using numbers generated upon death registration. The new UPI will centralize this process, streamlining how government institutions access and manage citizen data.

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This change will initially apply to all children born from October 2023 onward, as well as to all students enrolled under KEMIS. Those born before the UPI rollout will continue using the old systems until full national transition occurs.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Education introduced a 15-member multi-agency team to lead KEMIS’s implementation. Basic Education PS Prof. Julius Bitok said pilot testing will begin in July, with full rollout expected by September 2025.

Officials say this digital transformation will reduce fraud, enhance access to services, and improve planning across health, education, and civil sectors.