The government has launched an aggressive 10-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) in Elgeyo Marakwet, aiming to issue identity cards to 60,000 residents who exist as ghosts in the national database.

Leading the charge is Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, who descended on Iten with a clear directive: no Kenyan should be disenfranchised. The drive is not merely administrative; it is deeply political. With the 2027 General Election looming on the horizon, every ID card issued is a potential vote. "We cannot talk of development when our people do not exist on paper," Kipsang told a gathering of chiefs and local administrators. "This gap of 60,000 is unacceptable."

The target demographic includes youth who have attained the age of majority but have not applied for IDs, as well as older citizens who have, for years, slipped through the cracks of the bureaucracy. The RRI approach bypasses the notorious red tape of the National Registration Bureau, bringing mobile registration units to the village level.

The Bureaucratic Bottleneck

Elgeyo Marakwet, with its rugged terrain and scattered population, presents unique logistical challenges. However, the lack of IDs has severe real-world consequences beyond voting.

• Service Denial: Without an ID, residents are locked out of government services, including the Hustler Fund, university funding, and banking services.
• Security Concerns: In a region prone to cattle rustling and insecurity, undocumented citizens pose a challenge for security agencies trying to track movement and identity.
• Economic Exclusion: The inability to register a SIM card or open a bank account condemns thousands to the informal economy, limiting their financial growth.

"I have waited for two years," said Mary Cheptoo, a 20-year-old student in Keiyo North. "Every time I go to the office, the machine is broken or the network is down. I hope this time it is real." Her skepticism is shared by many who have seen similar drives fizzle out.

A Race Against Time

The 10-day window is ambitious. Chiefs have been put on notice that their performance will be measured by the numbers they return. Dr. Kipsang’s involvement underscores the "whole-of-government" approach, utilizing the education sector’s reach to mobilize students and parents.

As the registration clerks fan out across the escarpments, the pressure is on. For 60,000 residents of the "County of Champions," this is a chance to finally claim their citizenship. For the state, it is a frantic game of catch-up to close a yawning gap in the national registry.