Govt launches aggressive ID, voter registration drive in Nyanza
By Viola Kosome, July 17, 2026The government has embarked on an aggressive campaign to register eligible Kenyans for national identity cards and voter cards in a bid to boost access to government services and increase participation in the country’s democratic process.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the exercise targets nearly one million people in the Nyanza region who either lack national identity cards or are yet to register as voters.
Door-to-door drive to register eligible voters
Speaking on Friday, July 17, 2026, during the burial of veteran educationist Mwalimu Daniel Oluoch Wandayi, brother to Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, in Ugunja, Siaya County, Omollo said leaders in the region had resolved to conduct a door-to-door mobilisation campaign beginning Monday, July 19, 2026, to ensure every eligible resident obtains the required documents.
“We have close to one million people who have not taken registration cards in this region. We have agreed with Members of Parliament and MCAs that from Monday we will move door to door to ensure those who have attained the age of 18 get identity cards and those with IDs but without voter cards are registered,” he said.
The PS said President William Ruto had directed that all eligible Kenyans be issued with identification documents without unnecessary barriers, adding that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration was implementing the directive fairly and without discrimination.
“President Ruto has made it possible for areas where it was previously difficult to access identification documents to do so. As a ministry, we are executing those directives without fear, favour or discrimination,” he said.
Omollo said access to national identification documents is fundamental to citizenship, dignity and inclusion, noting that many Kenyans remain locked out of government services, economic opportunities and democratic participation because they lack identification documents.
“No Kenyan should be excluded from government programmes or democratic participation because they lack an identity document,” he said.
He noted that in Garissa County, six out of every 10 adults do not possess identification documents or voter registration cards, while in the Nyanza region, four out of every 10 adults are yet to obtain the documents, effectively disenfranchising them from government planning and electoral processes.
He said the ongoing reforms are intended to ensure every Kenyan is counted, represented and able to benefit from national development programmes, describing the initiative as part of President Ruto’s broader agenda of equity, inclusion and national cohesion.
New administrative units
Omollo also announced that the government was strengthening service delivery through the operationalisation of new administrative units, revealing that Sikalame Division in Siaya County would become operational next week when the newly appointed Assistant County Commissioner reports to the station.
He said recruitment of chiefs and assistant chiefs for newly created locations and sub-locations was also underway, adding that consultations between the Ministry of Interior, local leaders and the Siaya County leadership had resulted in an agreement to prioritise the county in the next phase of gazettement of administrative units.
“Bringing government closer to the people remains a key priority. We want wananchi to access services conveniently and efficiently without travelling long distances,” he said.
On healthcare, the PS urged residents to continue registering with the Social Health Authority (SHA), noting that Siaya County had attained a registration rate of 52 per cent but called for intensified mobilisation to ensure more households benefit from the universal healthcare programme.
Omollo also urged parents to prioritise education, describing it as the greatest equaliser and the surest pathway to opportunity. He said the government had committed significant resources to the education sector, including expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and skills development programmes to equip young people for employment and entrepreneurship.
At the same time, he warned politicians against exploiting young people to engage in violence, saying such actions result in loss of lives and destruction of property and deny the youth opportunities for self-development.
“Youth should never allow themselves to be used to settle political scores. Their energy and talents should be directed towards education, innovation, entrepreneurship and nation-building,” he said.
Omollo further claimed that leaders in the region, led by ODM leader Senator Oburu Odinga, had agreed to support President Ruto’s development agenda, saying the President would be judged on his development record.
The burial was attended by National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe, Ugunja MP Moses Omondi, Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, Awendo MP Walter Owino, Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch, Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor (Jalang’o), Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and other national and county leaders.