Residents of Bondo Sub-County have turned up in large numbers for the second consecutive day to apply for identification cards (IDs) and register as voters under the Kenya Youth Transition Initiative (KYTI) programme.
The programme, sponsored by Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, has recorded more than 400 new ID applications from Mageta Island and Ajigo Sublocation in Bondo constituency over the past two days.
KYTI Bondo coordinator Monica Ligawa said the programme, being implemented in partnership with the Department of Registration of Persons, targets more than 1,000 new ID registrations by the end of the week.
Ligawa said the ongoing mobile ID and voter registration exercise targets residents living far from Bondo and Usigu Sub-County headquarters to improve access to government services.
Teresia Odinga Ongaro, 75, Janis Ongalo Okumu, 65, and Syprose Atieno Odhiambo, 60, from Ajigo Sublocation, were among residents who turned up at Gobei Health Centre for the exercise.
The three expressed relief at finally getting an opportunity to apply for the crucial identification document after years of unsuccessful attempts.
They blamed bureaucracy and alleged hidden charges demanded at ID registration offices for their failure to obtain the documents.
They said lack of identification cards had locked them out of the Inua Jamii programme, but hoped to enrol and benefit from the government cash transfer programme once they obtained their IDs.
The three also expressed hope of voting for the first time after acquiring their identification cards and registering as voters.
“I want to thank Dr Omollo for giving us IDs. It was very difficult for me to get an ID because of the costs involved and the bureaucracies. I am now going to vote for the first time,” said Ongalo.
Young people who turned up for the exercise also welcomed the initiative, saying it had made it easier for them to apply for IDs without travelling to Bondo town.
Caroline Achieng, 23, said she had moved from Mbita and got married in the area but did not have an identification card.
“I am from Mbita but am married here and I did not have an ID. Today, I made my application here without being asked to produce money or any other document,” she said.
Siaya County KYTI Coordinator Steve Charles urged politicians in the region to exercise restraint in their utterances and avoid imposing preferred candidates on residents.
Charles said political divisions and attempts to impose candidates could discourage voters from participating in elections and undermine gains made through the KYTI programme.
He said the initiative had so far helped increase the number of registered voters in Siaya County by more than 60,000 over the past year.
“We have moved from 533,000 to 590,000 registered voters in Siaya and we are still working to improve. I want to urge party leaders not to force their preferred candidates on people because it will lead to voter apathy that will also affect presidential votes, contrary to the target of the programme,” said Charles.
By Brian Ondeng
