IDs to be issued within 21 days, PS says

PS Julius Bitok speaks after he opened the new Civil Registration Office in Bura constituency. [Robert Menza, Standard]

For years, residents of Mbalambala and Bangale in Tana River County have had to travel to Hola, a distance of over 200 kilometres and pay over Sh2,000 on a single trip, to apply for birth and death certificates, as well as ID cards.

Often, they have to wait for over two weeks to get the important documents.

But this will now be a thing of the past after a new Civil Registration Office was opened in Bura constituency, Tana North sub-county.

Speaking after he opened the new office, Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok said the government will ensure that ID cards are issued within 21 days upon application.

Bitok urged residents of Bura to take advantage of the new Civil Registration Services and get their children registered for birth certificates, as the document is key to accessing government services such as education, health care and work opportunities.

The PS said vetting before registration and issuance of IDs to pastoralist communities in Bura and other parts of the county that have hindered access to government services has also been stopped.

The department has opened several registration offices in a bid to lessen the hassle of travelling long distances for essential services.

Tana River leaders, led by Bura Member of Parliament Yakub Adow Kuno, pleaded with the government to relax stringent vetting so that genuine cases are not denied vital documents.

The leaders asked for continuous mobile registration to ensure 100 per cent reach on registration and issuance of IDs.