Nyeri: The Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice, Charles Dulo, has urged Kenyans to make timely applications for vital documents to avoid missing out on critical government services. The Chairman noted that a considerable number of Kenyans do not possess Identification Documents (IDs) or Birth Certificates and they only apply for them whenever they need to access government services, exposing them to delays, as they wait for the documents to be processed.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mr. Dulo is calling for concerted efforts by both the National and County government actors to sensitise the public on the importance of timely acquisition of the crucial documents to ensure that they do not miss out on government services. The Registrar of Persons cited Late Registration as a big challenge, highlighting that these documents are not only vital at the time of voting but also necessary for services such as registering for the Social Health Authority, applying for loans from the Higher Education Loans Board, and for succession purposes, as an ID is required for inheritance claims.
Dulo spoke in Nyeri when he led other commissioners in paying a courtesy call to the Nyeri Governor, Dr. Mutahi Kahiga. This visit preceded a day-long sensitization exercise of Nyeri town residents on the functions of the Commission. The Chairperson also expressed concern over the rising number of uncollected documents in Huduma Centres and registration bureaus in the county.
The Commission noted that they are alarmed by the high number of uncollected Driver's Licenses at Huduma Centres. As of April this year, the uncollected IDs in the Mount Kenya region stood at 25,000, with 6,000 of them being first-time applications. To fast-track the distribution of processed documents to their owners, the Commission plans to partner with the National Registration Bureau and National Government Administrative Officers to decentralize document distribution.
Dulo mentioned that the Commission is collaborating with the National Transport and Safety Authority to address the network issues affecting the verification of Driver's License holders, which has delayed the collection of licenses. He emphasized the need for more effective communication methods, as the current system of sending text notifications is not entirely effective. The plan is to ensure that IDs and other documents are delivered closer to the applicants.
Dr. Kahiga appealed to the Commission to increase public sensitization forums to educate citizens on the proper channels for addressing maladministration when receiving services from the National and County governments. He acknowledged the inevitability of complaints but stressed that some arise from a lack of information, highlighting the importance of continued engagements to clarify the roles of County and National governments.