Hundreds of youths in Madogo,Tana River county on Saturday took to the streets to protest against delayed in issuance of national identity cards. The over 500 youths waving placards and banners blocked the busy Garissa Nairobi road paralyzing transport for close to two hours.
Maulid Mohamed, a local resident, claimed he has been waiting for the identification papers for the past two years.
“I applied for an ID card in 2014. I was given a waiting card and promised that I would get it within three months. The registration officials always take me in circles whenever I ask forthe ID,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed said lack of an ID has left him stranded since he can’t travel, open a bank account, enroll for studies or even secure employment. Another protester Shukri Ibrahim, 23, who competed his secondary education in 2009, said the government was discriminating against the area in giving the IDs. He claimed the registration office had become partisan and that it is used by politicians to selectively issue ID cards. He said lack of IDs had become synonymous with constant police harassment every time there is a security operation.
But when contacted on the phone, Tana River County Registrar of persons Benson Kwendo said those with issues should go the nearest registration office for verification of their waiting cards.
