You’ll get IDs in 21 days, N Eastern residents told
The government has assured residents of the six counties of Northern Kenya that they will now get Identification (ID) cards within 21 days of application.
Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok gave the assurance Tuesday when he hosted MPs from the region for talks on issuance of birth certificates, IDs and passports.
He said the government is also reviewing the mandatory vetting of applicants to speed up the process.
“The government, through the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, and in consultation with the North Eastern Kenya political leadership and other stakeholders, is committed to an agreeable solution to review application processes for issuance of identification documents,” said Bitok.
He said the government is determined to end discrimination in the issuance of crucial documents against residents of Northern Kenya, particularly those of Somali ethnic origin.
Vetting teams
At the meeting, Bitok said the Ministry is making proposals to improve issuance of personal identification documents in the region by replacing vetting teams with grassroots identification teams composed of at least two village elders to provide a friendlier, faster and citizen service centric process.
The PS also stated that with the help of the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), they will ensure ready documents are delivered to bonafide applicants as soon as possible.
