Garissa welcomes move to abolish vetting for IDs in NE
Residents say process was discriminatory
2mon agoSTEPHEN ASTARIKONorth-eastern
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has urged administrators in Bungoma County to exempt residents from the rigorous vetting process during application for National Identity Cards (IDs).
Wetang'ula told chiefs and their assistants to use their positions to push eligible citizens, especially the youth to get IDs.
The Speaker’s utterances came hot on the heels of President William Ruto's order issued in North Eastern Kenya, where he gave the directives.
He challenged the administrators to intensify campaigns and ensure that eligible citizens acquire the vital document.
Speaking when he hosted political leaders and the administrators at his rural home in Bungoma, Wetang'ula reminded them that the President's order is not meant for the North Eastern region alone.
"I support the President's directive on removal of vetting of ID applicants. I want to clarify that the directive is not meant for the North Eastern region only but applicable countrywide," he added.
The Speaker noted that the order got rid of the colonial restrictions that made it hard to acquire an ID.
"Most youths shied away from applying for IDs because of the unnecessary restrictions they were subjected to. I have seen Kenyans above 60 years who do not have IDs because they don't meet the requirements," he said.
He added that the government would devolve the ID issuance bureaus to hasten the process of acquiring the document.
"We had a meeting with the President and he agreed that the government will decentralise more services related to the issuance of IDs, except for printing to make the process faster and have applicants get the document on time," he added.
The Speaker challenged MPs and MCAs who were present to ensure that the number of registered voters is increased as a result of majority of residents acquiring IDs.
"I urge politicians to mobilise all ID holders to register as voters. We are targeting to increase our number of registered voters from more than 600,000 to one million," he said.
He added: "Bungoma is the third largest county in the country and there is no justification as to why we have not hit one million registered voters."
On stalled road projects in the county, the Speaker notified the meeting that the government has allocated Sh1.5 billion in the supplementary budget for the completion projects.
On the financially strapped Nzoia Sugar factory, Wetang'ula said that the government has identified a potential firm to lease the factory to.
This, he said, is a measure aimed at reviving the mill for the benefit of suffering farmers.
"I urge farmers who relied on the sugar mill for their livelihood to ignore critics who were opposed to plans and reminded them that the leaders in Nyanza region have rallied behind plans to lease Sony, Miwani, Muhoroni and Chemilil sugar mills."
Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli said it was good that the government had allocated money for completion of the stalled roads.
"Completion of the stalled roads would open up the county and make movement of people and goods easier," he added.
Other MPs who supported leasing of the factory include John Chikati (Tongaren), John Makali (Kanduyi) Martin Pepela (Webuye East) and Kiminini's Didmus Barasa.
MCAs who attended the meeting were led by the County Assembly Speaker Emanuel Situma and Majority Leader Joseph Nyongesa among others.
