Chiefs go after herders for Huduma Namba registration

Pastoralists who have migrated to Mt Kenya, Mukogodo and Aberdare forests in search of pasture for their livestock would be traced by local administrators and be registered into the Huduma Namba programme.

Laikipia County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha (pictured) said chiefs, their assistants and village elders, will follow the herders who settle near forests and register them.

“The chiefs know the people in their areas who migrate and they should be able to trace them,” said Mr Kyatha.

The pastoralists move from their homes and migrate with their livestock during dry spell and settle near forests.

The state official noted that the county has managed a daily record of over 14, 00 adding that poor network coverage has been a major challenge in the exercise in some areas such as Laikipia North.

He also noted that some machines used in the registration process were slow but the issue was being rectified.

The hitch of slow machine is said to have disadvantaged the registration officials in highly populated areas where they argue that the set target in all areas are the same forcing some to overstretch to hit the targets.

Kyatha urged residents to take advantage at this period when schools are closed to register their children.

He, however, noted that some people especially in urban areas were reluctant to register, maintaining that all people must do so as per the government directive.

Nominated MCA and a former Nyahururu deputy mayor Irene Wachuka urged people to come out in large numbers and register and not wait for the last days.

“People will definitely need this number at some point and should hurry up and register. The president and his deputy have registered and that an assurance to Kenyans of the openness of the programme,” said Wachuka.