Today, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified that identification cards will be provided free of charge to students from border counties, citing that the government has completely removed the fees for first-time holders of identification cards.
Honourable Murkomen stated that the government has fully committed to resolving the issues related to identification cards in counties bordering Somalia. He noted that many citizens in these areas seldom register for identification cards, especially when a fee is involved in the process.
The introduction of Live Capture Unit technology for student registration in schools and for individuals in remote locations has greatly enhanced accessibility and ease of use. This process enables first-time applicants to obtain their identification cards within a week.
Last Wednesday, during a visit by Jukwaa la Usalama to Wajir County, the National Registration Bureau team registered a group of students from Wajir Secondary School for their ID cards. Today, a ceremony took place where these students received their ID cards, officiated by County Commissioner Mr. Karuku Ngumo, with support from Mr. Galgalo Ofole, the Wajir County Registrar, and other registration personnel.
In his tweet today, Hon. Murkomen observed that many citizens are congratulating him, with some thanking him for his efforts. Conversely, others are voicing concerns about the government’s plan to provide identification cards to the Somali population, arguing that it is a tactic by the Kenya Kwanza administration to gain support in the 2027 elections, especially after the issues in Central Kenya.
Many are wondering why individuals in Central Kenya applying for their first identification cards face a wait of more than three months for delivery, whereas those in the Somali regions often receive theirs in just seven weeks.
In general, the majority of people feel that the government has made a wise decision, considering that the Somalia boundary regions have been neglected for a significant time. It is important that these areas also receive support from government programs.
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