Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke has called on chiefs and assistant chiefs to sensitise the youth on the importance of acquiring identification cards (IDs) to enable them to register as voters.
Speaking after a consultative meeting with more than 60 local administrators from Sameta and Nyamache sub-counties in Nyamache Sub County, Kisii County, PS Isaboke noted the acquisition of the IDs will enable the young people to actively participate in the next General Election and access government services.
“We have agreed with the administrators that they will mop up the youth who have attained 18 years and encourage them to get IDs so that they are not left behind in getting government services and voting,” said Isaboke.
He noted that Nyamache and Sameta sub-counties had registered about 10,000 new voters against the Independent and Boundaries Commission’s target of 40,000.
The PS reiterated the government’s commitment to fast-tracking the issuance of IDs, adding that the process of registration had been automated.
“The government has opened several channels for ID registration, including Huduma centres for the youth to register, and we encourage as many youth as possible to come out and register because the process will be hastened,” Isaboke added.
The Principal Secretary also underscored the critical role that administrators play in strengthening service delivery at the grassroots level by supporting programmes under the five pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
In the spirit of a whole-of-government approach, he pledged to address the challenges affecting the administrators, such as poor internet connectivity and inadequate ICT equipment, in order to better support the officers in delivering government services.
Isaboke also called upon the residents of Kisii to enrol for the Social Health Authority, noting that 465,000 are already registered under the scheme.
The PS later joined leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party for a women empowerment forum at Nyamira Primary School in Nyamira County, where he donated 100 computers to the school.
By Mercy Osongo and Alfred Misheba
