The government has no hidden agenda for the planned issuance of third-generation identification cards.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Edison Nyale says the new ID is a digital document that will have all the data of an individual for ease of reference, adding that as the world moves towards the digital age, Kenya must also move.
Dr. Nyale urged the residents to turn up in large numbers and acquire the document once it is rolled out.
He informed the residents that the government will, starting next week, launch a rapid result initiative (RRI) on the issuance of passports.
The government is working hard to ensure passport issuance is fast-tracked, he said, and asked those who applied for the document and have received messages that their passports have been dispatched to visit regional and sub-regional immigration offices to collect them.
“If there are applicants who cannot make it to the regional or sub-regional offices, they can come together and report at their respective sub-county offices, and the Immigration Department will send its officers to the sub-county office to deliver the passports during the RRI,” he said.
The government, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, announced the RRI move after an audit revealed that a substantial number of printed passports that had been delivered to regional and sub-regional offices had not been collected by the owners.
Meanwhile, a section of leaders from the county have vowed that never again shall the residents of Uasin Gishu engage in politically instigated violence like what happened in the 2007/08 post-election violence.
The leaders, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and nominated MP Joseph Wainaina, said they will ensure that they coexist in peace, live, do business, and work in any part of the county without fear.
The leaders were speaking on Thursday at Langas ward on the outskirts of Eldoret during the World Day of Peace commemoration.
Wainaina observed that political clashes occurred in 1992 and 1997, but the worst occurred in 2007.
“As residents and leaders of Uasin Gishu, we pray to God, and we shall work hard to make sure such clashes will never be witnessed ever again,” he stressed.
The UDA-nominated MP praised the role played by peace elders in ensuring there is lasting peace in the county and urged the governor and the national government to ensure that any factors that may contribute to lack of peace in the county are dealt with decisively.
“The county government should consider setting aside some funds to give as stipends to the peace elders and ‘nyumba kumi’ officials to motivate them to continue with the good work they are doing.
Dr. Nyale committed that the government will deal ruthlessly with illicit brewing and alcohol consumption, which he said was a major factor that contributes to lack of peace, even in families.
Governor Bii, in his remarks, said that as a county, they will never allow anybody from outside the county to incite residents into disharmony. “We want to live in peace, and anybody who plans to incite tribal animosity will not be entertained in Uasin Gishu,” said the governor.
By Kiptanui Cherono
