Desk set up to replace IDs lost during floods

 Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Kenyans who lost their identity cards and passports to floods will get special services, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has said.

Bitok said an emergency desk has been set up at Nyayo House, Nairobi, to aid flood victims in reporting and replacing lost personal documents including IDs and passports.

‘’We are aware that there are many people who lost their documents due to flood destruction. We have therefore opened an emergency registry at Nyayo House where victims of floods will have their documents processed with immediate effect,” Bitok said.

He was speaking at Athi-River, Machakos County, on Friday when he led a campaign to plant 3,000 indigenous tree seedlings.

The PS said the ministry will also set up a similar help desk in all regions that are affected by the floods.

Bitok said processing the documents faster will ensure victims of floods continue to access government services. “We will move to other regions where floods have caused havoc leaving people desperately in need of government services.”

The PS urged Kenyans not to just plant trees but also to embrace the culture of nurturing the trees. 

In Homa Bay, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the Kenya Forest Service, the county government and National Government Administration Officers will collaborate to sustain tree planting in the region. 

Bare hills

“In a matter of years, these hills will not be as bare as they are today, and in three to four years, we will be talking about how to harvest the forest, particularly on what we need to sustain the livelihoods of the people of this place,” he said at Gambe Hills after leading a tree-planting initiative.

Regarding the floods, Omollo urged residents to heed the government directives to prevent the loss of lives. 

He said that the government will move at least two IDP camps in the county to facilitate the reopening of schools on  Monday. 

Meanwhile, the Kenya National Authority will need more than Sh5 billion to repair bridges that were swept away or damaged by the floods.

KeNHA Director General Kungu Ndungu said the repair work has started and will go on as more funds are allocated by the government.