TURKANA — More than 2,200 identity cards remain uncollected at the Turkana County Huduma Centre, raising concerns about access to crucial documents in this remote part of Kenya.
Yonah Nyawir, the Huduma Centre manager, said 2,091 of these cards are replacements or duplicates, while 112 belong to first-time applicants. He noted that first-time applicants no longer pay a fee after the government scrapped the Ksh300 charge earlier this year.
“For those replacing lost or damaged cards, the fee is Ksh1,050, which includes Ksh50 for e-citizen services,” Nyawir explained. “We are working closely with local government officers and chiefs to encourage applicants to collect their cards.”
The Huduma Centre regularly shares lists of ready cards with local chiefs, who notify residents. Cards typically take about three weeks to process and arrive at the centre.
Distance and poor transport links remain major hurdles. Many applicants must travel long and difficult routes to reach the centre, delaying collection.
To address this, the government plans to open new Huduma centres in Turkana, with a site identified for Turkana North and Kakuma’s centre expected to be operational soon.
Nyawir also highlighted ongoing outreach efforts to register more young people. “Recently, we registered 216 youth in Kanamkemer ward during an outreach in partnership with local chiefs,” he said. “We have a similar event planned for Napetet.”
Identity cards are vital in Kenya. They are needed to secure jobs, access government services, and register to vote. Uncollected cards risk leaving many without these essential opportunities.
With plans underway to bring services closer to residents, officials hope more people will soon claim their identity documents and fully participate in civic life.
