Verifying your exchange account with a Kenyan national ID or passport: name order, photos and address

Identity verification is the step that unlocks deposits, withdrawals and P2P on most exchanges, and it is where many Kenyan users get stuck. The causes are rarely serious. Names on Kenyan IDs often include several given names and a surname, and the order typed into the form may not match what the system reads from the card. Photos taken in poor light, an old ID that has been replaced, or an address entered differently from documents can all trigger a rejection. A little preparation avoids most of them.

Choose the document and check it first

Decide whether you will use your national ID card or your passport. The verification screen lists the documents accepted for Kenya on that exchange; follow that list rather than advice from a group chat. Check that the document is not expired or damaged and that it is the latest one issued to you. If you replaced a lost ID, use the new card, since the old serial number may no longer be valid in the checks the exchange runs.

Enter your name exactly as printed

Type your names in the same order and spelling as on the document, including middle names if the form has a field for them. Avoid nicknames, shortened names or the order you use on social media. If the form has separate fields for first and last name, put the surname in the last name field as printed. The same name should later appear on the M-Pesa or bank account you use for P2P or fiat payments, because many exchanges require payment names to match the verified name.

Take photos that the system can read

Place the document on a plain dark surface in good daylight, avoid flash glare and make sure all four corners are visible. Check that the text is sharp when you zoom in. For the selfie or face scan, remove hats and sunglasses, face the light and follow the movements the app requests without switching apps halfway. A slow, steady attempt usually passes where a rushed one fails, and the app often shows the reason if it does not.

Address details and what to do after a rejection

Some exchanges ask for a residential address and, at higher levels, proof of address. Enter it the way it appears on the document you will provide, such as a utility bill or bank statement. If verification is rejected, read the reason in the verification section or notification before resubmitting, fix that one issue and try again. Ask questions through in-app support only; strangers offering to verify your account for a fee are scammers.

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Scenario checkpoint

• Check the list of accepted documents for Kenya on the verification screen and use your latest ID.
• Type your names in the exact order and spelling printed on the document.
• Photograph the document in daylight with all corners visible and do the face scan without hats or glasses.
• Read the rejection reason before resubmitting and use only in-app support for help.