Mass ID renewal: Busia NIRA registrars, LCs cautioned against enrolling foreigners
“Be mindful of the [Kenyan] border, which has sometimes been used as a breeding ground for dissidents,” Busia district NIRA officer Suleiman Mukwasi said on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Busia RDC Hajira Namagogwe (right) renewing her ID. (Photos by Egessa Hajusu)
By Egessa Hajusu
Journalists @New Vision
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As the mass registration and renewal of national identity starts countrywide, National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) assistant registrars in Busia district have been warned against enrolling noncitizens.
“Be mindful of the [Kenyan] border, which has sometimes been used as a breeding ground for dissidents,” Busia district NIRA officer Suleiman Mukwasi said on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The launch at the office of the Busia Resident District Commissioner (RDC) saw several district officials and members of the public renew and register for national identity cards.
Deputy RDC Grace Kanuna described the exercise, which kicked off countrywide yesterday, as critical for the security of the country and appealed to the assistant registration officers who will be conducting the exercise at the parish level not to compromise the security of the country by registering wrong elements.
Kanuna urged the registration office to use this chance to recover the national identity cards, which were issued to foreigners through unlawful means.
Suleiman Mukwasi, the DRO Busia speaking at the Launch of national ID renewal and registration.
“You are holding the security of this country in your hands,” he noted and appealed to the registrars to respect the people they are going to meet in the community.
Don't be extorted
RDC Hajira Namagogwe warned against extortion from the unsuspecting members of the public, saying the exercise is free.
“If you know that you cannot provide a free service, resign now and go home because we are not going to allow you to tarnish the good name of the NRM government,” she said.
Namagogwe also noted that mishandling this exercise is tantamount to messing up with the NRM votes.
She advised LC1 officials along the borderline to desist from allowing non-residents to be enrolled and cautioned politicians against smuggling in voters from Kenya to come to register and vote for them.
Mukwasi said the district has 20 solar-powered kits being used for registration.