MIGORI, 29th December –Thousands of youths in Muhuru Bay, Nyatike Sub-county, Migori County, have turned up in large numbers to apply for National Identification Cards following a locally coordinated registration drive that has brought services closer to the community.
The exercise, spearheaded by the office of Principal Secretary, Ministry of Interior and National Coordination Dr. Raymond Omollo in collaboration with the Youth Transition Initiative, has sparked renewed optimism among young people who for years have lacked the crucial document needed to access jobs, government services and civic rights.
Mobile registration officers were deployed to Muhuru Bay, easing the burden of long travel distances that previously discouraged many from applying.
Youth leader Hellington Awiti said the initiative had unlocked opportunities for a generation that felt left out of national systems due to lack of identification.
“Many youths here had reached voting age and even job-seeking age, but without IDs they were stuck. Bringing the service here has made a big difference,” Awiti said.
Since the start of the exercise, queues formed early, with some applicants arriving before sunrise to secure a chance to register.
Community leaders say the high turnout reflects both demand and growing awareness of the importance of official identification.
Residents note that for years, some youths postponed applying for IDs due to distance, costs associated with travel, or general apathy.
The mobile registration drive has reversed that trend, with local leaders helping to mobilise and sensitise young people on the benefits of owning an ID.
Morolka Awino, a community mobiliser, said the number of applicants has exceeded expectations and called for an extension of the registration period.
“The turnout has been overwhelming. If the exercise is extended, more youths who are still waiting will get the opportunity to apply,” she said.
Beyond employment and voting, residents say the IDs will allow youths to access financial services that were previously out of reach.
Banks, savings groups and mobile loan platforms require identification, leaving many young people excluded from credit and entrepreneurship opportunities.
For first-time applicants, the process has also helped demystify government services, with officials guiding them through documentation requirements and next steps.
Local administrators have worked closely with youth leaders to ensure order and transparency during the exercise.
Young applicants say the initiative has restored hope and a sense of inclusion.
One of them, 22-year-old Pauline Odhiambo, described the moment as life-changing.
“With an ID, I can now apply for jobs, open a bank account and feel recognised as a citizen,” she said.
As the registration continues, community leaders are urging youths who have not yet applied to take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts.
They also want similar initiatives extended to other remote parts of Nyatike Sub-county, arguing that access to identification should not depend on one’s location.
For Muhuru Bay, the exercise marks a significant step toward empowering youths and integrating them into national social and economic systems, with many hopeful that the momentum will be sustained long after the mobile registration team leaves the area.
