ID registration drive targets 60,000 in Elgeyo Marakwet

Elgeyo Marakwet chiefs and their assistants during the launch of a Rapid Results Initiative for national ID registration./KNA

The National Registration Bureau has embarked on a 10-day Rapid Results Initiative aimed at issuing national identification cards to 60,000 new applicants in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the county was one of 15 targeted in the exercise, having experienced challenges in registration due to insecurity.

The PS was speaking at the Kenya Medical Training College Iten during a meeting with chiefs and their assistants, whom he said would be instrumental in ensuring the success of the exercise as they are in touch with citizens at the grassroots.

He regretted that the lack of the identification document has led to residents missing out on various government services.

Governor Wisley Rotich said the county government would work with the national government to ensure the success of the registration exercise through deployment of its vehicles to enable officers from the department to reach the far-flung areas of the county.

He urged all residents to take advantage of the RRI, where registration services would be taken close to them, and register in large numbers.

He also called on them to register as voters to exercise their civic duty during the upcoming general election once they get their IDs, adding that there were 130,000 residents who have IDs but were yet to register as voters.