By Nyanza Wire 
A new wave of national identity card registrations has swept across the larger Nyanza region after the government decentralised the process to the village level, drawing thousands of young adults eager to secure the crucial document ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The initiative, spearheaded by Principal Secretary for Interior Dr Raymond Omollo, has been met with enthusiasm in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Migori, and Kisii counties, where long queues have become a common sight outside chiefs’ offices and assistant chiefs’ compounds.
For many youths, the ease of access to ID services marks a significant departure from years of complaints about long travel distances, bureaucratic delays, and, at times, intimidating interactions in sub-county offices.
The shift appears to have energised first-time applicants, many of whom view the document as their gateway to employment, services, and political participation.
In Kisumu County, 18-year-old John Otieno said he rushed to apply for his first ID shortly after learning that officers would be stationed closer to his house. Standing in line at Kondele roundabout, Otieno described the process as timely and crucial.
“I had just turned 18 in February, so when I heard they were bringing the registration to this point, I knew it was my chance,” he said.
He added that he is looking forward to registering as a voter when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission opens its next listing drive.
“I want to vote, and for me, I will vote for President Ruto because I have seen what the affordable housing programme is doing,” he said.
Otieno said he recently worked as a casual labourer at the Lumumba affordable housing project in Kisumu, where he says construction is ongoing.
“I’m earning something from the site. It has helped me, and that’s why I believe in the programme,” he added.
Across sub-counties in the greater Nyanza region, similar stories were echoed.
Long queues, sometimes stretching outside markets, chiefs’ offices, and makeshift tents, highlighted the determination of residents who had long postponed registration due to logistical challenges.
The rollout, many said, had removed a significant barrier for young adults, some of whom have reached their mid-20s without ever obtaining an ID.