Somali Embassy in Nairobi Starts Issuing National ID Cards to Citizens in Kenya
The Embassy of Somalia in Nairobi has introduced a new programme allowing Somali nationals living in Kenya to apply for and obtain their national identification cards without travelling back to Somalia.
The initiative was officially launched on March 27 by Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle. The rollout comes just weeks before the planned reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border.
The registration centre is operated by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Somalia’s government agency responsible for issuing national IDs. According to Ambassador Abdulle, the new office will simplify the application process for Somali citizens residing in Kenya by eliminating the need for travel back home, thereby reducing costs, delays, and other logistical challenges.
The Nairobi facility represents a milestone in Somalia’s national identification programme, becoming the 30th NIRA office established outside the country as authorities work to ensure citizens in the diaspora remain connected to national registration systems.
“Somalis living in Kenya can now register and obtain their National ID Card at the Embassy, marking the 30th NIRA office established abroad as we expand access to the Somali National ID,” Ambassador Abdulle said during the launch.
The Somali national ID card is a biometric-based document that contains a unique 11-digit identification number assigned to each citizen for life. The system is designed to provide secure and reliable identification across government services and digital platforms while preventing duplication and identity conflicts.
Applicants are required to submit biometric information, including fingerprints and photographs, which will be stored in a secure database to support identity verification in both physical and digital systems as the programme expands.
Authorities also plan to introduce different formats of the ID, including digital and smartcard versions, which could allow users to integrate their identity into modern services such as banking, travel documentation, and access to government programmes.
The development comes ahead of the expected reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border, which has remained closed for more than a decade due to security concerns linked to the militant group Al-Shabaab.
William Ruto, President of Kenya, recently announced that the border is set to reopen in April. The move aims to boost cross-border trade, strengthen regional cooperation following Somalia’s admission into the East African Community, and reconnect communities in the North-Eastern region that have long been separated by the closure.
According to President Ruto, the reopening will be implemented gradually, beginning with key border crossing points that serve major trade routes and local communities. The government hopes the move will stimulate economic activity and reunite families who have been separated for years due to travel restrictions.
However, the plan has raised concerns among some Kenyans who fear that reopening the border could lead to renewed security threats and attacks on critical infrastructure. President Ruto has maintained that the process will be guided by intelligence assessments, with security agencies remaining on high alert to manage any potential risks.