Over 250, 000 people in Taita-Taveta County have registered for Huduma Namba even as government urged for extensive mobilization to have all residents captured in the system during the ongoing exercise.
The State Department of East Africa Community (EAC) Principal Secretary, Dr. Margaret Mwakima said the county was doing well but said there was need for more efforts to encourage those still reluctant to take the number.
She said that the government was keen on centralising and integrates all information about its citizens and foreigners to enhance service delivery.
Speaking in Taveta during a drive to officially launch the Huduma Number registration initiative in the county, the PS said foreigners in the border town were required to acquire proper immigration documents for them to get Huduma Namba.
She added that the number would be seamlessly integrated into a centralised system to enhance and boost planning processes.
“The number is for your own good. It will make work easier for government and allow services to get to the people at the grassroots without any obstacles,” she said.
The event was also attended by County Commissioner (CC), Rhoda Onyancha, Deputy County Commissioners (DCC), Joseph Lewa, Voi; Stanley Kamande, Taveta; Francis Kazungu, Taita and Mwatate’s, Gladys Kimondo.
The PS further asked preachers and pastors in the region to demystify the Huduma Namba in churches to allay fears it was associated with the biblical end-of-time number.
Taita-Taveta County has a target to register 390,000 people in the next one-and-half weeks when the exercise comes to completion.
The CC said she was confident the county target will be met, saying that village elders and chiefs were
aggressively getting people in the villages to register.
She further cautioned residents against paying for registration papers stating the exercise was free for all Kenyans.
“No one should pay anything to be registered. This exercise is catered and fully paid for by the government,” she stated.
There have been claims that some unscrupulous Huduma Namba agents have been demanding for money to print the registration forms ; an act the CC said will not be tolerated as it was a violation of rules of registration.
She said such cases should be reported for action.
By Wagema Mwangi
