Charged Youth Jeer Raila in Homabay Over thorny issue of National Identity Cards

Former Premier and leader of ODM Party was on Monday Jeered by angry youth forcing him to cut short his address at a party recruitment rally in Mbita town, Homabay County.

For once the veteran politician waded into hostile grounds when he urged the youth to come out and register in large numbers first as voters by taking the national identity card and second as members of ODM Party.

“National Identification card is a fundamental right of each and every Kenyan,” Raila said amid another round of jeers from the youth.

It was Homabay Governor Gladys Atieno Nyasuna Wanga who came to his rescue by quickly whispering in his ears: 
“The matter of ID, President William Ruto has said they must pay, Ruto said they must pay to have their ID.”

She then pleaded with the youth to allow the doyen of Kenya’s opposition politics to pursue the matter with the Government.

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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki through a gazette notice issued last week announced a 200 percent increase in acquiring a lost ID Card. Kindiki also announced that acquiring a new ID Card would now cost KES 1000 from the usual KES 100.

Nairobi High Court judge Justice Lawrence Mugambi has issued a temporary stay order on the Government against implementing the prohibitive costs.

To placate the youth Raila said said the Azimio La Umoja team will take the proposed National Identification fee charges to the bipartisan talks.

 He also said that issuance of identification cards to Kenya citizens should be catered for by the taxes paid  and be issued free of charge.

“National Identification card is a fundamental right of each and every Kenyan, we will take the matter to the bipartisan talks,” he said.