TAITA TAVETA, Kenya – Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen will wrap up the final day of the Jukwaa La Usalama Coastal tour in Taita Taveta County, where he will engage with local leaders and security stakeholders on various pressing matters affecting the region.
Murkomen began his visit with a closed-door meeting aimed at addressing security issues impacting the county.
He was briefed on the ongoing challenges and strategies in place to enhance safety and stability in the area.
The CS also conducted a spot check on the mobile ID registration process, interacting with local applicants who were issued waiting documents.
Addressing the media, Murkomen shared key updates on the government’s efforts to make national identification more accessible to residents of border communities, including those in Taita Taveta.
He pointed out the removal of mandatory extra-vetting for these communities, a move he described as a significant step toward ensuring equal access to government services.
“The people of Taita Taveta County, who have faced discrimination and ethnic profiling since independence, can now access government services like any other Kenyan,” Murkomen said.
This change, he emphasized, would allow residents to apply for national IDs without facing the bureaucratic barriers they once did.
In addition, Murkomen highlighted the removal of application fees for first-time ID applicants.
He praised the move, noting that it eliminated a significant cost bottleneck, which had previously made it difficult for many locals to obtain the essential document.
“This is an exciting development, as it means locals can now apply for IDs free of charge, without the discrimination of ethnicity, origin, or religion,” Murkomen remarked, expressing his satisfaction with the progress made in the county.
The CS, who is accompanied by Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo, and several Members of Parliament, including Shake Mbogho (Mwatate), John Bwire (Taveta), Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi), and Lydia Haika, also addressed the state of development projects and service delivery in the region.
Murkomen’s visit underscored the government’s commitment to improving public service delivery and ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their geographic or ethnic background, have equal access to essential services.
He is also with top security officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli of the Administration Police Service, as well as regional and county security chiefs.
