By J, KNA
Form four candidates in four counties of North Rift region are set to acquire National Identification Cards (IDs) as they finish their KCSE exams in November this year.
The Director, National Registration Bureau (NRB), Joseph Ndatho has said the candidates are among thousands of Kenyans without IDs, set to benefit from the ongoing 10-day mobile registration exercise, covering 15 selected counties.
Ndatho said the first phase of the programme had already been rolled out in Baringo, Elgeiyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Turkana counties.
The Director said the mobile registration had also boosted the ongoing national Continuous Voter Registration drive, being undertaken by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
He urged youth and elderly from the beneficiary counties to turn up in large numbers and take advantage of the crucial government services, being offered free-of-charge.
Speaking during a monitoring tour of registration centres in Baringo county, Ndatho said he was shocked to learn that some people in the region, aged above 40 did not have IDs because of logistical challenges resulting from marginalization.
“I am hopeful that with this mobile IDs registration, more of the unregistered Kenyans here in Baringo, which is one of the targeted 15 ASAL regions, will finally get the documents at their convenience,” he said.
The Director said that the government had rolled out this affirmative action programme in the affected counties to improve coverage, which was way below the national level.
He stated that NRB had dispersed mobile teams across sub counties in the stated regions to reach out to all the eligible youth, even at the remote villages.
“I am urging local chiefs to intensify civic education among Gen Zs and the elderly to take advantage of the 10 days crash programme to apply for the identity cards and birth certificates being issued for free,” he implored.
He disclosed that there were more than 770 IDs lying uncollected at various registration centres across Baringo county.
“I urge the owners to visit the respective registration offices to pick the vital documents,” he reiterated.
Ndatho also noted that the government opted to take the registration exercise to secondary schools in the marginalized regions, given that most of the candidates from needy families could hardly get an opportunity to reach far flung registration centres in their counties.
The Director said the mobile ID registration exercise which also incorporates registration of births is vital for every citizen in Kenya, noting that people without IDs, may not benefit from government programmes like the recently launched NYOTA empowerment initiative, SHA services, HELB loan, cash transfers targeting special groups like the elderly, persons with disabilities, as well as orphans and widows.
The mobile registration exercise which started Monday this week in all the four counties, has been welcomed with joy by residents of Baringo, who lauded the government for the initiative, which they said had saved them from incurring unnneccessary costs, while seeking such essential services.
During a spot-check by KNA in Mogotio and Baringo Central sub counties, some of the beneficiaries from the marginalized parts asked the government to extend time for the exercise in order to reach more people.
An expectant mother, who was among those who turned up for the mobile registration exercise, but who sought anonymity, said the mobile service was godsend for it had come at the opportune time, when she was torn between spending her limited resources to go for the same services at the sub-county registration office in Mogotio town, or save some cash in readiness for her impending delivery day.
