The government has set itself an ambitious goal of registering at least one million Kenyans for new national identity cards in the next one year.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made the announcement during an inspection of operations at the National Registration Bureau in Nairobi.
The ministry, he said, will launch a countrywide mobile registration drive next week to reach eligible citizens who have not yet acquired the important document.
Murkomen noted that the government has acquired new printing machines which have the capacity to print 15,000 ID cards daily an initiative he said will tackle delays that have long frustrated applicants.
“Because the IEBC is conducting mass voter registration, this is the time to have your ID done in a speedy manner,” said Murkomen. “With us, we are not only registering Kenyans but even legal aliens and refugees so that they can access basic services.”
The CS especially urged the youth to utilize the opportunity, referring to the ID as the first step toward full engagement in shaping the future of the nation.
At the same time, he was concerned about more than 400,000 uncollected IDs gathering dust in registration offices across the country. He directed chiefs to move in and help trace owners so the documents can be picked up.
Murkomen also cautioned local administrators who have been accused of extorting applicants, stating that the government will not hesitate to move against those who take advantage of Kenyans as they seek to acquire IDs.
