Siaya Senator James Orengo wants ID issuance decentralised

Siaya Senator James Orengo address the Press where he produced a list of land benificiacies in Kenya on 04/08/14 Nairobi [PHOTO/Moses Omusula]

Senator James Orengo has petitioned the Government to strengthen the laws governing the issuance of identification cards upon application to registration centres.

If Mr Orengo gets his way, Kenyans will no longer have to wait for two months after application to get identification cards (IDs).

Speaking in Sega, Ugenya sub-county, Orengo said decentralising the issuance of IDs would enable easy and quicker access to the vital document to ensure every eligible Kenyan gets to exercise their democratic right of voting in 2017.

"There is need for enhancement and decentralisation of ID issuance services so that the documents can be issued upon application at local registration bureaus to block registration officials from messing around with them," he said.

The legislator said that with the technology in Kenya today, it is possible for Kenyans to apply and get IDs immediately instead of waiting for months.

Orengo lamented that a lot of people wait for up to a year to get their IDs despite the fact that it is their constitutional right to have the document.

"This is the reason why some people still shy away from getting it. This is not fair since they are not in a position to participate in lots of activities," he said.