Mt Elgon residents have accused the government of selective issuance of ID cards.
They said
youths are denied IDs
and registration officers give unconvincing
reasons for the decision.
Resident Bernard Wakhungu said 300 people have been denied IDs and described it as a shocking failure.
He said the majority of the victims are youths who want to register as voters. Others are the elderly who have misplaced their documents.
Process delayed
Wakhungu said some victims lost their ID cards during the Sabaot Land Defense Force’s reign of terror. He said they need to replace them so they can participate in the elections.
“We are not satisfied with the reasons given by the registration officers,” Wakhungu said.
The areas affected are Kimabole, Embakasi, Chesikaki, Mulatiwa, Meloni and Chemondi in Cheptais subcounty.
Wakhungu said some politicians could be using the officers to block residents in certain areas from registering as voters.
He said a number of youths have been turned away from the chief and assistant chief’s offices on the ground that they did not attach some documents.
“The administrators are delaying the whole process,” Wakhungu said.
But Cheptais subcounty registrar Tom Mbotela said residents have not raised the issue at their office.
He said they have to thoroughly vet applicants because the area borders Uganda.
Mbotela said the vetting is to stop foreigners from acquiring a Kenyan national ID irregularly.
He said they will
look into the concerns as soon as they are presented. “We need to be careful in the registration process,” Mbotela said.
