An ID costs Sh150,000 in Mandera, says official

A foreigner needs just Sh150, 000 to acquire a Kenyan ID in Mandera, a county official has said.
Mandera County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo said corrupt officials at the border collude with cartels to let in aliens after receiving bribes.
“Lack of patriotism and greed by local leaders is also one of the reasons issuance of IDs was suspended in Mandera in 2013,” Mr Nkoyo said.
“Some chiefs went ahead to advise the registrar to endorse issuance on IDs to foreigners. But with the new rules, corrupt officials will carry their own crosses as it will be easy to trace errors in the process and those responsible.”
County Registrar of Persons Said Godhana said the government had proposed expanded vetting teams for those wishing to acquire IDs as a way of preventing non-Kenyans from accessing the document.
VETTING COMMITTEE
Previously, a vetting committee had a District Registrar as the secretary, officers from the National Security Intelligence Services and the CID, a chief and four village elders. This team shall now be expanded to include local religious and youth leaders.
One must also present birth certificate, a notification of birth, school leaving certificate academic certificates, a religious card, clinic card and age assessment card.
Mr Godhana said government officials in the vetting teams would also sign registers before the process starts. All village vetting committee elders shall append their left thumbprint impressions on the registers so that they are held responsible for any abnormalities.
“We have the moral obligation to do things right here because what happens in Mandera affects other parts of the country,” said Mr Godhana who spoke when the proposals were he presented to stakeholders including county leadership.
Mandera Governor Ali Roba said the local leadership and other stakeholders needed time to deliberate on the new guidelines before adopting them.
“We want to ensure the new rules meet constitutional requirements,” said Mr Roba.
He added: “We agree the regulations are meant to ensure only Kenyans access this very important document,” he said.
Source: Nation.co.ke