Mombasa: Huduma Centre Mombasa has recorded a 250 per cent increase in the number of Kenyans applying for and replacing their national identification cards since President William Ruto’s directive scrapping ID fees took effect. Harison Yogo, the Centre Manager, attributed the surge to the Head of State’s directive that ID services would henceforth be free, ending a period when many Kenyans, particularly the youth, went without the document over cost.
According to Kenya News Agency, Yogo stated, “Since the President made this announcement, the number of ID applicants has really increased. I would say close to 250 per cent of the initial number we used to have. The citizens are really appreciating what the President did by removing the ID registration fee.” To handle the rising demand, the centre has extended its working hours to accommodate working residents. “We open our doors from 7 am to 7 pm. Those who are employed and report to work at 8 am can come and receive services before then, and those who close their offices at 5 pm have an opportunity between 5 pm and 7 pm to come for ID and registration services,” Yogo said.
Yogo highlighted the centre’s outreach programme, Huduma Mashinani, which takes registration services closer to residents in remote and previously unregistered areas, serving between 1,500 and 2,000 citizens per outreach and sometimes extending into weekends. “We partner with institutions, organisations, well-wishers, county governments, the county commissioner, local chiefs and area MCAs and MPs to take these services closer to Wanaichi,” Yogo said.
To further streamline services, the centre has established a police abstract desk on site to assist residents replacing lost identification documents. “When you have lost your ID, you walk in, you are given a police abstract, and you don’t have to look for it at a police station outside. This is a one-stop shop where you get all your services,” Yogo added, noting that IDs are currently processed and ready for collection within two weeks.
The centre has also partnered with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which operates a desk inside the centre and another strategically placed outside, registering an average of 40 new voters daily. “Every citizen who walks in and collects their ID, we inform them that we also have an IEBC desk adjacent, so before they walk out of Huduma Centre Mombasa, they can register as a voter. Daily, we have about 40 citizens registering with IEBC,” Yogo said.
As the country approaches an electioneering period, the ID and IEBC desks work side by side to capture first-time voters at the point they acquire their identification documents. The Huduma Centre Manager emphasized that an ID unlocks access to other critical services, including KRA registration, birth certificates, and registration with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Ali Khamisi, a resident of Makande and one of the beneficiaries of the free service, shared his experience, noting that his application took less than three weeks to be processed. “It was a good experience. I applied, and within less than three weeks my ID was ready for collection. I did not pay anything,” said Khamisi. He urged other residents who have not yet applied for their IDs to take advantage of the free service and visit Huduma Centre Mombasa.
