Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on Kenyans to get their National Identification (ID) cards on time. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaking during Jukwaa la Usalama. Photo: Kipchumba Murkomen. Source: Facebook This comes as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has begun carrying out the mass registration of voters across the country. How many uncollected IDs are there? Speaking to the press on Friday, October 3, Murkomen stated that they have approximately 400,000 uncollected IDs. He emphasised the importance of the IDs, noting that they would assist Kenyans in registering to vote for the highly anticipated 2027 General Election.
“I want to ask Kenyans to please collect their IDs. We have 400,000 uncollected IDs, which means around 270,000 or 80,000 are those who are replacing their IDs, and nearly 150,000 are those who are actually taking it for the first time. We have too many IDs in our offices across the country,” Murkomen said. He further disclosed that during the Jukwaa la Usalama Edition, the CS agreed with the chiefs that they would come up with ways to have them take the IDs individually to villages. “I want to encourage many Kenyans who registered in their villages. They should make sure that they collect their own IDs,” Murkomen reiterated. Can aliens register as Kenyan voters? Murkomen asserted that the ministry has ensured that refugees and aliens in the country can register as voters He asserted that the move would ensure that the aliens could access services using their cards.
The vocal politician stated that refugees registering as voters would help the government to monitor and manage their numbers in the country. “We are not just registering Kenyans. We are registering aliens who are in Kenya, we are giving them proper registration so that they can be documented, they can be accounted for and can access services using their alien IDs,” he added. Has vetting requirement for IDs been removed? This comes months after President William Ruto ordered the abolition of vetting during the national ID application process for some ethnic groups starting in May. Speaking at the State House during the Iftar Dinner, Ruto clarified that the changes would be meant to bring equality and inclusivity to all people of the country, regardless of their ethnicity or background. ID applicants, especially those from indigenous groups like Nubians, Arabs, and Asians, are required to register at bureau offices to provide proof of Kenyan citizenship before receiving their IDs. With Ruto’s public announcement, the requirement will no longer apply once the directive is gazetted. The head of state also announced the removal of charges for ID acquisition and replacement.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
