Mad rush to register for Huduma Namba ahead of deadline
What you need to know:
- In the capital Nairobi, long queues were witnessed at Huduma Centres, with one at GPO being among the longest.
- Senior citizens, pregnant women and mothers with babies were not spared the pain of waiting in the long queues.
- Similar long lines were witnessed across the country, with centres in towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Kakamega, Garissa, Nyeri, Meru experiencing the rush.
As was expected, Kenyans have once again proved that they are given to last-minute rush, a day to the end of Huduma Namba registration.
On Friday, men, women and their children came out in their hundreds and thronged registration centres, with many lamenting about the slow pace of listing.
In the capital Nairobi, long queues were witnessed at Huduma Centres, with one at GPO being among the longest.
The line had coiled more than thrice by 8am and police officers had to intervene to maintain order.
“The line is not moving at all. We have been since 5am and I feel like giving up,” Ms Njeri Njambi, 25, told the Nation.
A member of the public keeps herself busy in the queue as she waits for her turn to register for the Huduma Namba at the GPO Huduma Centre in Nairobi on May 17, 2019. PHOTO | SILA KIPLAGAT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
CHILDREN SKIP SCHOOL
In Kahawa Wendani, residents woke up as early 3am to avoid the long queues but many were disappointed.
“We were here a few minutes to 4am, with our children who have had to miss school,” Mr James Kiprop told the Nation.
“It’s almost 8am and the clerks are yet to arrive yet the centre should open at 6.30am. It’s unfair.”
Police officers have had to intervene to maintain order as Nairobi residents turn up to register for Huduma Namba on May 17, 2019, a day before the deadline. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Senior citizens, pregnant women and mothers with babies were not spared the pain of waiting in the long queues.
Similar long lines were witnessed across the country, with centres in towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Kakamega, Garissa, Nyeri, Meru experiencing the rush.
INSPECTION
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i visited several stations in the capital, including GPO, as he inspected the exercise.
Dr Matiang’i said he has mobilised for more clerks and Kiems kits to be delivered to GPO to help ease the pressure.
Nairobi residents queue to register for Huduma Numba at the GPO Huduma Centre in the city centre on May 17, 2019. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The personnel and the equipment would come from centres with less numbers, the CS said.
And despite the rush, the minister maintained government will not extend the mass registration beyond Saturday unless President Kenyatta issues an order.
But the listing will continue at chiefs’ offices countrywide beyond Saturday.
However, the local administrators are unlikely to pick up the registration exercise immediately because many of them have not been trained on the use of the kits.
More follows...
