Nairobi: Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke has called on chiefs and assistant chiefs to sensitise the youth on the importance of acquiring identification cards (IDs) to enable them to register as voters.
According to Kenya News Agency, PS Isaboke made this appeal during a consultative meeting with more than 60 local administrators from Sameta and Nyamache sub-counties in Nyamache Sub County, Kisii County. He emphasized that obtaining IDs will allow young people to actively participate in the upcoming General Election and access essential government services.
“We have agreed with the administrators that they will mop up the youth who have attained 18 years and encourage them to get IDs so that they are not left behind in getting government services and voting,” Isaboke stated. He highlighted that Nyamache and Sameta sub-counties had only registered about 10,000 new voters against the Independent and Boundaries Commission’s target of 40,000.
The Principal Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expediting the issuance of IDs, noting that the registration process has been automated. “The government has opened several channels for ID registration, including Huduma centres for the youth to register, and we encourage as many youth as possible to come out and register because the process will be hastened,” Isaboke added.
He also stressed the vital role administrators play in enhancing service delivery at the grassroots level by supporting programs under the five pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). In line with a whole-of-government approach, Isaboke promised to address challenges faced by administrators, such as poor internet connectivity and inadequate ICT equipment, to better enable them to deliver government services.
Furthermore, Isaboke urged Kisii residents to enrol in the Social Health Authority, mentioning that 465,000 individuals are already registered under the scheme. Later, the PS joined leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party for a women empowerment forum at Nyamira Primary School in Nyamira County, where he donated 100 computers to the school.
