Kenya will begin issuing internationally recognizable Seafarer Identification Documents (SID) to its citizens within the next three months, in an effort to ease the travel of maritime workers.
Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang revealed this when he appeared before the Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee of the National Assembly, which was chaired by Taita Taveta MP Lydia Haika
Kipsang revealed that a sample SID card has already been sent to the International Labour Organization (ILO) for approval. The ILO has provided feedback, which will be incorporated into a revised version featuring real data embedded in both the chip and QR code before being resubmitted for review.
He also confirmed that the State Department has procured live capture units for biometric enrolment of seafarers.
“The live capture system will be customized to match Kenya Maritime Authority’s (KMA) business processes, allowing real-time data transmission to the central processing system at the National Registration Bureau,” Kipsang said.
It is not like the National ID, that is used locally, that the SID has global standards and is also a travel document by itself, enabling seafarers to work from border to border without a visa.
Members of the committee raised an eyebrow over the three-month implementation schedule, and Kipsang replied that steps yet to be taken include completing a Public Key Infrastructure audit as well as being certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and installing servers and network infrastructure to host SID database at both KMA and NRB.
“We are working closely with ICAO. We know how important this document is for our seafarers, and it will be ready within the next three months,” he assured.
The SID will allow Kenyan seafarers to travel for work, join ships, disembark for shore leave, and transit through multiple countries with greater ease, eliminating the need for visas and reducing delays in global maritime operations.
