The Orange Democratic Party (ODM) has raised concern over alleged selective issuance of national identity cards to Kenyans who have attained the mandatory age of 18 years.
ODM national chairman John Mbadi said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that Kenyans who have attained the age of 18 years and above should be provided with Ids within three days was being applied selectively.
Mbadi cited Western Kenya, a perecived ODM strronghold, where forms for the ID cards have allegedly gone from being scare to completely unavailable.
“Besides, members of the provincial administration, particularly District Officers who are supposed to sign the documents are either too slow or have refused to appear in offices to serve wananchi,” Mbadi said in a statement.
Mbadi claimed that the frustrations being meted out on youths in ODM strongholds seeking for the Ids are deliberate and well coordinated from a central place.
“Indeed, information we have is that these officers have instructions from the Interior Ministry not to cooperate in the exercise in perceived Opposition areas,” he said.
Mbadi warned that the creeping feeling of unfairness and deliberate disenfranchisement could set a dangerous and volatile at this time leading to the general election.
