NCPWD registration is available online, with applicants required to provide a medical assessment report, identification documents and a passport-size photograph.
Persons with disabilities in Kenya can register with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) online through eCitizen and obtain their disability registration certificate without having to make a physical application at a Council office.
The registration service is available through the NCPWD eCitizen platform, where applicants can apply as persons with disabilities and follow the application process online.
The process is particularly important for people seeking to access services provided through NCPWD and other authorised government programmes.
NCPWD says registration helps the government maintain a database of persons with disabilities and understand their needs when planning services. The Council lists services including assistive devices, economic empowerment, education assistance, tools of trade, job placement and legal advisory services among the areas supported through registration.
What you need to register as a person with disability
NCPWD currently lists four key requirements for registration.
An applicant needs:
- A disability medical assessment report from a government-gazetted hospital, signed by the County Director of Medical Services.
- A National ID for applicants aged 18 and above.
- A birth certificate for a minor.
- A passport-size photograph.
NCPWD says registration is free.
The Council also says medical assessments are carried out at gazetted government facilities, with Level Four hospitals identified because they have the rehabilitation services required during the assessment.
How to register as a PWD on eCitizen
The application can be started through the NCPWD eCitizen service.
Step 1: Create or access your eCitizen account
Applicants who do not already have an eCitizen account need to create one before applying.
NCPWD’s instructions direct applicants to the eCitizen platform, where they can register using the appropriate option for citizens, foreigners or residents.
Alternatively, applicants can access the dedicated NCPWD eCitizen service and sign in using eCitizen credentials or the available OTP option.
Open the NCPWD eCitizen service
Step 2: Select the NCPWD registration service
After signing in, look for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities service.
NCPWD’s current instructions say applicants should select:
“Register as a person with Disability.”
Step 3: Complete the application
Follow the instructions displayed on the application and enter the required personal information.
Applicants should have their supporting documents ready before starting the application so that the required information can be entered and the documents uploaded when requested.
Step 4: Upload the required documents
The application requires the disability medical assessment report, identification document and passport-size photograph.
For adults, NCPWD lists the National ID as the identification document. For minors, the Council requires a birth certificate.
Step 5: Submit the application
Review the information provided before submitting the application.
Once submitted, the application goes through the relevant NCPWD processing and approval process.
Applicants should retain their application reference details because they can be used to access the application history and certificate.
How to register a child with a disability
A minor does not need to have an individual eCitizen account to be registered.
NCPWD says the person applying on behalf of the child should have an eCitizen account. After accessing the NCPWD registration service, the applicant should select the “Minor” option under the application category and follow the instructions.
The documents required for a minor include:
- An eCitizen account belonging to the person applying on the child’s behalf
- Disability medical assessment report from a government-gazetted hospital, signed by the County Director of Medical Services
- Birth certificate
- Passport-size photograph.
NCPWD also lists the minor’s registration as free.
How to download the NCPWD disability certificate
Once an application has been processed, applicants can access their disability registration certificate through eCitizen.
According to NCPWD’s current instructions, the process is:
- Log in to eCitizen.
- Go to Home.
- Select Recent Applications.
- Click View History.
- Select the reference number for the application.
- Click Download Disability Certificate.
The certificate can then be downloaded or printed.
Access NCPWD services on eCitizen
How much does NCPWD registration cost?
NCPWD currently lists the registration charge as free. This applies to both adult registration and registration of minors.
Applicants should therefore be cautious about anyone asking them to pay a registration fee simply to submit an NCPWD registration application.
The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025 also provides that a person with a disability has a right to specified registration and identification documents, including a disability identification card, free of charge.
What happens after you register?
Registration is not simply about obtaining a certificate.
NCPWD says its database helps government understand the number and needs of persons with disabilities for planning purposes. Registration also facilitates access to a range of programmes and services offered through the Council and other authorised bodies.
These include:
- Assistive devices
- Economic empowerment programmes
- Education assistance
- Tools of trade
- Job placement
- Legal advisory services
- Support programmes for persons with albinism
- Infrastructure and equipment support.
The availability of a programme does not necessarily mean every registered person automatically qualifies for funding or assistance. Individual programmes may have their own eligibility requirements and vetting processes.
Important update: new PWD registration regulations are being developed
There is a significant development that applicants should know about.
NCPWD recently announced that it has developed Persons with Disabilities (Registration) Regulations under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025.
The Council said the Registration Regulations have progressed well, but its statement did not say that the new regulations have already taken effect. NCPWD said the regulations will proceed through the required process, including public participation, once they have been finalised.
For now, the registration procedure outlined above is based on the current NCPWD eCitizen guidance.
This is worth keeping in mind because the procedure could be updated when the new regulations are finalised and implemented.
Registration is not the same as access to every PWD benefit
Registering with NCPWD can open the door to various government programmes, but registration itself should not be confused with automatic qualification for every benefit.
For example, NCPWD says applications for some programmes undergo vetting before beneficiaries are selected. The requirements can therefore differ depending on the particular service being sought.
For someone registering for the first time, the practical starting point is therefore straightforward: complete the NCPWD registration, obtain the disability registration certificate, and then check the requirements for the specific programme or service you want to access.
Useful official links
NCPWD eCitizen registration service
NCPWD registration and eCitizen guidance
NCPWD toll-free: 0800 724 333.
