Mt Elgon human rights activist-cum-politician Amos Chemabus has called on the government to set up a births and deaths office in Cheptais subcounty.
Chemabus decried the high expenses residents are incurring to acquire the documents.
Speaking to the star in Bungoma town on Wednesday, Chemabus said the majority of residents lack the vital documents due to poverty and the distance they have to cover to access them.
“Our people have to travel all the way to Kapsokwony or Bungoma town to acquire those documents. I am calling on the government to set up an office in Cheptais town and deploy officers who will help us speed up the process,” said Chemabus.
"The population has grown and as residents, we need such services close to us."
He said that with the creation of the devolved units, residents are supposed to get services closer to them.
“As the government puts in more effort to ensure all school-going children present their birth certificates to the Ministry of Education before they are enrolled. Cheptais residents are having a hard time to acquire such essential documents,” he lamented.
Chemabus also proposed that the government should set up a mobile office at Cheptais and Kopsiro so that they can attend to applicants once a week.
"The essence of a subcounty is to devolve government services or bring services nearer to the grassroots, not only birth and death certificates but also other documents such as land title deeds,” Chemabus said.
He further noted that widows and widowers are among the most affected.