Kenyans Urged to Collect Over 400,000 Uncollected IDs for voting

The government has raised alarm at the low rate of voter registration in the country revealing that more than 400,000 national IDs are yet to be collected by their owners. This has raised the fear that the coming electoral process may be compromised whereby citizens are unable to obtain their vital identification documents in good time.

In a tree-planting exercise to celebrate Mazingira Day on Friday at Uasin Gishu County, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Belio Kipsang gave an emotional appeal to Kenyans to turn in their national IDs as soon as possible.

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He emphasized the importance of carrying an identification card as a constitutional right as well as civic responsibility that has allowed people to contribute to the development of the country, including voting.

Kipsang encouraged all applicants to get their IDs as soon as possible so that they may also become voters, as many Kenyans have been locked out of voter registration due to the lack of ID.

The PS stated that the government via the Ministry of Interior is in consultation with chiefs, assistant chiefs, and other local administrators to facilitate the collection process. The citizens who cannot pick their IDs physically will have the documents delivered near their areas of residence.

Kipsang also emphasized the concern of the government on the reduction in the number of new ID applications especially the arid and semi-arid areas. He explained this trend with low level of general awareness and false belief that ID acquisition is a tedious or complex process. This, he made, is due to the elimination of the vetting committees along the borders, so as to facilitate easier registration and to make sure that the vetoes that existed before causing unnecessary red tape to access would be eliminated.

In spite of these reforms, Kipsang, however, has regretted that there are citizens particularly the elders who have not been able to access the free ID application and collection program that was introduced under the directive of the President. He urged elderly citizens and those who are first time applicants to go to registration centers to make sure that they are duly registered.

The process is as simple as we have made it. All Kenyans, who are eligible, are supposed to obtain their identification cards and are supposed to be registered as voters. It is the sole means of making sure that every individual is given a say on what becomes of the nation, the PS highlighted.

To ensure that the ongoing voter registration exercise runs smoothly, the government, Kipsang assured, had implemented powerful mechanisms. He mentioned that mobile teams have been dispatched in remote regions to accelerate the registration process and make sure that no Kenyan is left out.

He also invited the county and sub-county administrators to heighten the public awareness campaign, especially in the marginalized communities, so that people realize the necessity of obtaining identification documents and engaging in democratic processes.

The call to appeal by the government is also critical because the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cited low voter registration turnout and this may indicate voter apathy before future elections. Analysts caution that in case the trend persists, there are possibilities of having fewer eligible voters than projected thus influence on representation and credibility of the electoral process.

Kipsang reiterated that the government was dedicated to inclusion of citizens by ensuring that they are well documented by stating that national ID is a crucial access point to government services, education opportunities, jobs and voting rights.

He ended by encouraging all Kenyans who are yet to retrieve their identification card or yet to apply to the identification card to do so as soon as possible, and he said that the government will keep on enhancing the access and efficiency of their ID issuance and voter registration services