Plans to issue more than 200 street family youths aged 18 years and above with national identity cards kicked off at 64 Stadium in Eldoret on Tuesday.
The last time the government issued adult street families with ID cards was in 2013 according to Turbo Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Mohamed Mwabudzo.
According to the DCC, there are more than 3000 street families in Uasin Gishu and by the end of the exercise the government plans to register over 200 of them.
“Majority are still young therefore they are not eligible for the IDs,” said the DCC.
Mwabudzo said that having the IDs will help the street families to be eligible for employment opportunities available in the employment sector a move he said that would deter them from engaging in criminal activities.
“They can employ themselves legally or join driving schools and be employed as drivers and conductors,” he added.
“The registration exercise is expected to be carried out frequently by chiefs and sub chiefs in every location so that those who do not have the documents can look for their parents or the guardians who can help confirm that they are Kenyans,” he added.
The street families said they are willing and will cooperate to ensure the registration exercise succeeds adding that they were optimistic that they will be registered and consequently get IDs.
“Most of these street families belong to the local communities resident in Uasin Gishu, they have a right to have identity cards like other citizens of this country,” said the DCC who challenged men who sired the children to take responsibility to curb the high rate of street children.
Maina Mumbua a member of the street families thanked the government, saying he had high hopes that once he gets the ID he will be able to get a job and rent a house. According to him any job opportunity will be welcome.
By Cynthia Jebet/Kiptanui Cherono
