Residents of Vihiga County, especially the youth, have increasingly turned up at Huduma Centre Vihiga for national identity card applications and collection following the ongoing voter registration sensitisation campaign ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to the Senior Manager at Huduma Centre Vihiga, Kennedy Omondi, the centre is currently receiving an average of about 100 new ID applicants daily, a number that has significantly risen since the announcement and mobilisation of voter registration by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Omondi noted that many young people are now seeking national identity cards to enable them to participate in the electoral process and access other government services that require legal identification documents.
“Since the announcement of voter registration, there has been a great increase in the turnout of new ID applicants. Many youths are taking the opportunity to apply for this important legal document,” said Omondi.
He explained that first-time applicants are only required to present legal documents such as birth certificates during the application process.
The manager further revealed that the introduction of the Live Capture System has greatly improved service delivery at the centre, reducing the ID processing period to a maximum of two weeks compared to nearly one month in the past.
Despite the improvements, Omondi identified duplicate ID applications and system failures as some of the major challenges affecting the process.
He explained that some applicants move from one registration station to another or become difficult to trace after making duplicate applications, causing delays in processing.
He, however, urged applicants to report any issues immediately and follow up comprehensively with production teams to avoid inconveniences.
Registration Officer Benjamin Wob, who is stationed at the IEBC desk within Huduma Centre Vihiga, said the institution has enhanced coordination with the ID registration department to encourage more residents to register as voters once they acquire their national identification cards.
He clarified that voter registration is not conducted instantly after application, explaining that the process normally takes between four to six weeks before one officially becomes a registered and verified voter.
“There is need for continuous civic education so that members of the public understand the importance of voter registration and make informed decisions,” he said.
The officer observed that the current turnout at the Huduma Centre shows that many residents are voluntarily seeking registration services, unlike during the outreach registration exercise that ended last month.
Officials at the centre also raised concern over more than 1,200 uncollected IDs currently lying at the facility, urging applicants to collect the documents once notified.
They emphasized that possession of a national identity card remains a legal requirement for every Kenyan citizen and an important document in accessing employment opportunities, banking services, government programmes and participation in national elections.
As the country gradually prepares for the 2027 General Election, the IEBC continues to encourage all eligible Kenyans, particularly first-time voters, to apply for national identity cards and register early to avoid last-minute rushes.
By Kelly Barasa and Clara Simiyu
