Turkana County targets 400,000 in national ID registration drive

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When Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai appeared before the Senate at Bunge Tower, Nairobi on November 11, 2024. [File, Standard]

Turkana County will collaborate with the national government to expedite the issuance of identity cards to thousands of unregistered residents.

Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai stated that this initiative aims to register over 400,000 residents, the majority of whom are pastoralists without national IDs.

Speaking at a community engagement event in Nanam, Lokichoggio Sub-County, Lomorukai described the situation as alarming and detrimental to the community's access to essential government services.

"We face a serious challenge. The lack of identification documents has not only denied our people access to government programs but has also weakened our political representation," said Lomorukai.

The governor revealed that more than two million residents, including mobile pastoralists who frequently cross into Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia during dry seasons, have not been included in the national population data.

He emphasized that the County Government is committed to mobilizing resources and supporting the national government in conducting a large-scale identification exercise in hard-to-reach and border areas.

"We want to increase our representation. Some people think Turkana lacks the numbers, but we know that we do. Our residents must be issued IDs to compete fairly with the rest of the country," he stressed.

Lomorukai further appealed to the Ministry of Interior to expedite the issuance process and prioritize residents in remote and cross-border regions, where ID registration has been limited due to logistical challenges.

He expressed concern that some elderly residents, including those over 70 years of age, still lack ID cards, a situation he considers both unfortunate and unjust, as it prevents them from accessing pensions, healthcare, and other social protection programs.

There have been increasing calls from local leaders and civil society groups for inclusive and accessible civil registration services in marginalized counties.