Day: February 28, 2024

BUSIA, Kenya — Busia County is facing a significant backlog of unclaimed National Identity Cards (IDs), with officials urging residents to collect their documents to facilitate access to national services on the E-citizen platform. The county has over 4,000 IDs lying uncollected, a situation that is hindering residents from fully exercising their rights and participating in Kenya’s burgeoning digital economy.

According to Kenya News Agency, despite concerted efforts by National Government Administration Officers to ensure timely distribution of IDs to applicants, a large number of these crucial documents remain unclaimed. “As a government, we are going an extra mile to ensure no Kenyan misses government services as a result of a delayed ID. It’s disheartening to see IDs yet to be collected,” Chaunga stated during a press briefing.

The issue of unclaimed IDs is not unique to Busia County. Official data from the National Registration Bureau indicates that Kakamega County holds the highest number of uncollected IDs in the Western region, with 7,965 documents awaiting collection. Bungoma and Vihiga counties follow, with 7,145 and 2,388 unclaimed IDs, respectively, bringing the total in the Western region to 21,506.

The county commissioner has called on residents to visit their respective National Registration Bureau offices at the sub-county level or Huduma Centres across Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Vihiga to collect their IDs. This plea comes in the wake of public frustration over the prolonged waits for ID documents, as expressed by some residents to the Kenya News Agency.

In November 2023, the Interior Ministry attempted to introduce fees for ID applications and replacements, sparking public outcry. The proposed fees were later revised following a court intervention, which halted the charges pending the outcome of a legal petition against them.

The delay in ID production has been attributed to various logistical challenges, including breakdowns of printing machinery, shortages of printing materials, and the thorough background checks required, especially in border counties. In Kenya, possessing an ID is essential for accessing a wide range of services, including those provided by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Higher Education Loans Board, among others.

KITUI – The government of Kitui County has earmarked Sh 3.8 billion for its health sector out of a total budget estimate of Sh 12.643 billion for the fiscal year 2024-2025. The allocation is aimed at enhancing healthcare services throughout the county. This significant investment in health is part of the county’s broader strategy to improve service delivery and promote sustainable development across various sectors.

According to Kenya News Agency, the budget will be financed through an equitable share of Sh 11.188 billion from the National Treasury, Sh 855 million from grants, and Sh 600 million from the county’s own source revenue. In addition to health, the budget outlines allocations for other critical sectors: the County Governor’s office will receive Sh 2.1 billion, while the Roads and Education sectors have been allocated Sh 1 billion and Sh 930 million, respectively. The County Assembly is set to receive Sh 1.1 billion, and the Agriculture sector will get Sh 789 million, among other allocations.

During a public participation forum on the County fiscal strategy paper for 2024/2025 held in Kitui Town, Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani emphasized the forum’s role in enhancing service delivery, prioritizing key investments, and fostering inclusive growth under the development theme ‘The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda for Inclusive Growth.’ The strategy paper outlines the county government’s policy programs for the medium-term period of 2024/2025 to 2026/2027, establishing direct linkages between policies, plans, and budgets.

The budget estimates report further details the allocation for the Office of the Governor at Sh 2,179,203,223, which will support education through the pro-poor support program, infrastructure development, and renovation, among other initiatives. The Office of the Deputy Governor has been allocated Sh 185,071,878 to enhance the management of emergencies, decision-making, ICT infrastructure, and the completion and operationalization of tourist attractions such as Mutomo Reptile Park, Nzambani Park, Ikoo Valley, Kalundu Eco Park, and game reserves.

Additionally, the water sector has been allocated Sh 572,658,659 to improve water supply for both domestic and commercial use across Kitui County. This includes drilling and equipping boreholes, constructing mega and small earth dams, extending water pipes, and promoting irrigation schemes.

UASIN GISHU – The Uasin Gishu county government, in a collaborative move with the British High Commission, has secured a Sh 302 million investment aimed at bolstering avocado exportation alongside passion fruit and edible oil production. This investment, facilitated through the Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) program, paves the way for the establishment of a new packing house, promising significant economic growth and investment attraction in the region.

According to Kenya News Agency, the investment agreement was finalized during a meeting with Dr. Dominic Biwott, the North Rift Advisor Program of the British High Commissioner, and representatives from Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). Dr. Bii expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, highlighting it as a major advancement for avocado farmers within the county. He assured that his administration would support the farmers by providing necessary seedlings to foster the initiative’s success.

The governor revealed that Fresh Product, the company selected to spearhead the operation, is expected to commence its activities in Eldoret within the next six months. This development follows a thorough market sourcing exercise conducted by PWC, aimed at identifying the most suitable investor for the project.

In addition to the packing house for avocados and passion fruits, Dr. Bii mentioned ongoing efforts to attract investors for a Maize Milling project and a Potato Cold Store, further diversifying the county’s agricultural investment portfolio. He expressed gratitude towards the British High Commission, the Sustainable Urban Economic Development Program, and PWC for their support and collaboration in bringing this investment to fruition.

BUSIA – In a push to enhance access to national services through the E-citizen platform, Busia County officials are calling on residents who have applied for National Identity Cards to collect their unclaimed documents from the registrar of persons. The initiative seeks to mitigate the challenges faced by over 4,000 residents unable to exercise their rights or fully participate in Kenya’s digital future due to unclaimed IDs.

According to Kenya News Agency, despite concerted efforts by National Government Administration Officers to ensure timely delivery of IDs to applicants, a significant number remain uncollected. Speaking with the press, Chaunga expressed concern over the delays, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring no Kenyan is deprived of government services due to unclaimed identification documents. This statement comes amidst reports of frustrations among some residents over the prolonged wait to receive their ID documents.

Recent data from the National Registration Bureau indicates that within the Western region of Kenya, Kakamega County holds the highest number of uncollected national identity cards, totaling 7,965, followed by Bungoma with 7,145, and Busia ranking third with 4,008 unclaimed IDs. Vihiga County has 2,388 uncollected IDs, bringing the total in Western to 21,506.

The county commissioner has urged residents to visit their local National Registration Bureau offices or Huduma Centres in Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Vihiga to collect their IDs. This call to action follows a controversial proposal in November 2023 by the Interior Ministry to introduce fees for applying and replacing National IDs — Ksh1,000 for new applications and Ksh2,000 for replacements. However, following public outcry, the ministry revised the fees to Ksh1,000 for replacements and Ksh300 for new applications, a decision which was subsequently suspended by the court pending a legal review.

Delays in ID production have been attributed to various logistical challenges, including breakdowns in printing machinery, shortages of printing materials, and extensive background checks, especially in border counties. In Kenya, possessing a National ID is crucial for accessing a wide array of E-citizen services, including those provided by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Transport and Safety Authority, Immigration services, business registration, marriage registration, and the Higher Education Loans Board.