Adults with no IDs should be punished-MP

Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui has called for the crafting of a law that will see adults who have failed to register for national identification cards (IDs) punished.

Speaking at Loboen Primary School, in Kabiemit during a prize giving day, the MP said that those who don’t have ID’s give the government agencies a difficult time when it comes to managing security.

Mr. Kiptanui urged his constituents to ensure that they get IDs, emphasising that there was no reason for them not to have the crucial document.

The MP went on to state that registering for an ID was important because one would need the document to register as a voter in the upcoming polls.

Kiptanui said citizens who have their IDs and voter’s cards will have a chance to make crucial decisions during polls, therefore ensuring that they have someone to champion for their interests.

With the 2017 General Elections being just 16 months away, politicians from various political parties have been championing for ID card registration in their constituencies.

Also witnessed in the last polls, such campaigns are aimed at ramping up voter numbers in political ‘strongholds’.

According to the Kenya Facts and Figures 2014, an official publication of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 1,413,842 IDs were issued in 2011.

As the 2013 elections inched closer, the number of IDs issued in 2012 ballooned to 2,282,378. However, 2013 saw the number drop to 1,723,186.

Mass voter registration in preparation for the 2017 General Elections will commence on the 15^th of February to the 15^th of March 2016.

Boosting Bursaries

Kiptanui also touched on constituency development funds (CDF) stating that the law on CDF has been changed – devolved functions will now be carried out by the county government.

“Since we will no longer be doing the devolved functions like roads and water, we will focus more on education. We intend to enhance bursaries to enable disadvantaged children to enjoy the education,” he said.

The MP promised that bursary allocations would be increased from 25% to 35% in a bid to assist more needy students in the region.

Should the proposed allocations go through, Ksh6-7 million will be going to education in the 2016-2017 financial year, up from Ksh4 million in the previous year.