Somalia Expands Citizen Registration in Kenya with NIRA Office Launch

GOOBJOOG NEWS| NAIROBI: Somalia has expanded access to national identification services for its diaspora with the launch of a National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) office at its embassy in Nairobi.

The office was inaugurated by Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabriil Ibrahim Abdulle, alongside NIRA Director General Abdiweli Ali Abdulle, marking the 30th NIRA centre established globally.

The new facility allows Somali citizens in Kenya to register for and obtain national ID cards without travelling back home, addressing a long-standing gap in access to essential documentation. Officials say the expansion will strengthen civil registration, improve service delivery and support Somalia’s broader governance reforms, including preparations for universal suffrage.

The development comes amid renewed cross-border engagement between Kenya and Somalia. Recently, William Ruto oversaw the reopening of key border points in northeastern Kenya, easing movement and trade. In this context, improved access to official identification is expected to play a critical role in managing mobility and integrating citizens into formal systems.

The Nairobi office reflects Somalia’s wider effort to modernise its institutions and extend services to its diaspora, strengthening both administrative reach and citizen inclusion.