A section of residents in Busia district have stormed the area resident district commissioner’s-RDC office in protest over failure to get the new national identification- IDs cards.
Last year, the National Identification Registration Authority -NIRA, started the exercise of both the renewal and registration of national IDs to enable citizens acquire their cards.
Now, there’s a section of residents in Busia who have on Tuesday stormed RDCs office claiming that NIRA sent them notification messages indicating that their cards are ready to be picked at the distribution centers at their districts of jurisdictions but whenever they go to NIRA office in Busia the staffs tells them that their IDs are not ready.
According to residents, this has made them spend alot of money travelling to and from their homes to pick their IDs but in vain.
Ratif Mwana, a resident, said that they got phone messages but reaching at Busia NIRA offices they found when the gate was closed and the police officer deployed at the gate could only allow selected people to enter.
Jackson Barasa, another resident said that they were blocked from the NIRA offices gate alleging that the NIRA staffs were extorting money ranging between shs:5000 to shs: 10,000 as bribe for one to be given quick attention.
Christine Ajambo said that she was excited on receiving a message from NIRA on Monday to go and pick the national ID but it was to her dismay that the Busia NIRA office tells her it wasn’t not there, which is why they have come to RDCs office to seek Justice.
Abdul Nassar Wandera Kisuyi, the Busia deputy RDC confirmed receiving residents demanding for their IDs but he directed them to go to NIRA offices.He urged them to be patient as they wait relevant authorities to intervene.
Makwasi Suleiman Wanzala, the Busia district NIRA officer said that residents were right to protest but the truth is that they have not received the new IDs. He said they are working together with with their bosses to ensure all the ID consignments reach in place and advised residents who recently recieved messages to be patient.
He denied the allegations of NIRA staff extorting money. He appealed to residents report any staff found in such errant act to face disciplinary action-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
