Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-07-05 12:49:00 Read 625 Times

Registrar of Persons Mrs. Ezres Ombajo, (left) District Youth Officer Mr.Peter Ruto,Mayor Mr.Ali Machani, DC Mr.Adan Gedow, D.Officer and Winrock Director Mr.Martin Wafula during the launch of the official regstration of National Identification Cards in Webuye. [PHOTO | Rosemary Wachiye]

Youth in Bungoma East have been called upon to apply for the National Identity cards prior to the forth coming general elections for them to be able to participate in the exercise and also for the school leavers to be recognized fully as citizens of the country.

Speaking at the launch of the official registration of the ID cards in Webuye, the Registrar of Persons Bungoma East District Mrs.Ezres Ombajo revealed that most youth are yet to apply for the ID cards despite the fact that it a vital document.

She assured the hundreds of youth who have turned up for the event that they will all be registered and issued with waiting cards owing to the commitment of her staff and the eminence of the exercise.

Mrs.Ombajo explained that there are three categories of the ID cards; the Initial registration for those who apply for the first time who have attained the age of 18 years and above.

Only requirement for one to get an ID card is a birth certificate document to verify the person’s age and the parents ID card.

The second group is the group who have the second generation of ID cards will need to re-register for the new type of IDs and the third category  is for those who are above 25 years and yet don’t have the national ID card who are then required to have an affidavit to explain their late registration.

“Those who are 25 years and above and are yet to register for the ID cards should do so and a payment of Sh.300 is required for those who want to change their names and acquire their husband’s names with an extra Sh.1000 for every change of on the ID card,” said Mrs.Ombajo.

She called upon the youth to collect their IDs once they are printed out to avoid pending of the uncollected cards stating that over 1,353 ID cards still pending at the Registrar of person’s office.

 Speaking at the same forum the District Youth Officer Mr.Peter Ruto called for the youth to apply for Youth Development Fund following the disbursement of Sh.3.5 Million to the district for youth empowerment.

He revealed that over 109 groups in the area had benefited from the youth fund since its initiation and explained to them the different categories of funds offered.

The Youth Enterprise Scheme (YES) where 6 groups qualified in that category every group selects 4 people who get Sh.25,000 individually which then totals up to Sh.100,000 per group.

He explained that from the first group the youth graduate to the Youth Enterprise Scheme swift where they are awarded Sh.50, 000 individually.

Every group that has benefited from the fund has been empowered economically to start their own project like chicken keeping, dairy farming, bee keeping and many more with others even opting to set up businesses.

Mr.Ruto has encouraged the youth to enroll in youth polytechnics in the area among them; Matulo Youth Polytechnic, Machakha Youth Polytechnic, Sinoko Youth Polytechnic, Mikhu Youth Polytechnic and Yalusi Youth Polytechnic.

He said it’s a cheap way of accessing education since the government pays Sh.15,000 for every youth in the polytechnic and the parent is only required to pay off the reminder Sh.5,000.

“Through the skills acquired at the youth polytechnics, the youths are turned into job initiators and not just job seekers,” said Mr.Ruto.

According to the Yes Youth Can program Deputy Director under Winrock International Mr.Martin Wafula stated that their main aim is to sensitize the youths on economic empowerment.

He says a group of youths has been trained through the same program and would then be used to pass across the same information to the other youths in the youth bunges.

Through the initiative of Yes Youth Can, the youths have been empowered to strike partnerships in activities that encourage youths to be meaningful in development through the Tahidi fund that offers loans for the youths.

Mr.Wafula reveals that the group will be moving in different constituencies in Western province to ensure that most youths get access to the information.

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