Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
26 January 2012
Five million Kenyans will have received their national identity cards before the next General Election, a Cabinet minister has said.
The Treasury had released Sh1.3 billion to facilitate the exercise, Immigration and Registration of Persons minister Otieno Kajwang' said on Thursday.
Mr Kajwang' said the money would be used to buy raw materials, employ more people and procure vehicles.
Speaking in Lari, Kiambu County, during the launch of second generation ID cards and mobile registration of persons, the minister said his ministry had the capacity of processing up to 60,000 ID cards per day.
However, he lamented that most people were not collecting their cards after registering.
He said 1.2 million cards were uncollected from various offices.
The minister also said that he would be seeking to amend the law to allow the registration of persons from the age of 16.
But 16-year-olds would not be allowed to vote until they reached 18. "I will persuade MPs to pass a Bill that I am preparing so that we can start registering people from the age of 16. This will be good for planning and statistics," he said.
In future, he said, they were considering introducing new cards, which would have more details about the holder.
"The IDs will have the name, address, NHIF and NSSF numbers, and driving licence details so that a person will not have to carry so many cards," he said.
Lari MP David Njuguna urged Kenyans aged over 18 to acquire the ID cards so that they can exercise their democratic right to vote during the next elections.
