By Rahma Mohamed

GARISSA- Pressure is mounting on political leaders in Kenya’s Northeastern region as they intensify a coordinated campaign to boost their numbers ahead of general 2027 general eelctions

The renewed mobilization drive is reportedly linked to a recent meeting at State House, where President William Ruto is said to have challenged the region’s leaders to intensify efforts to increase their numbers, prompting a fresh push across the Northeastern counties.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama held a high-level meeting with County Commissioner John Cheruiyot, Deputy County Commissioners, chiefs, sub-county administrators, officers from the National Registration Bureau, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Addressing journalists at the county headquarters, the Governor said 328,000 people in Garissa who have ID cards but are not registered as voters described the situation as disturbing.

It was also revealed that 4,312 processed national identity cards remain uncollected at the Garissa Huduma Centre, further underscoring the need for intensified public awareness and mobilization.

“We are all the morning to deliberate on how to beef up our numbers both ID and voter registration, its not going to be business as usual we have agreed that we are going to boast our numbers extensively,” he told journalists.

The governor revealed a raft of measures they have put in place to increase numbers including forming a secretariat comprising both the county and national officials only to increase numbers ahead of 2027 general elections.

“We will have mobile registration drives both for ID cards and also voter registration, we will reach the furthest corners of the county to ensure all of our people have been listed as voters,” said the County commissioner and Chiefs.

The Governor noted that they have set for themselves a new target for voter registration to ensure during the general elections they have numbers.

President William Ruto signed a Presidential Proclamation on Registration and Issuance of IDs to Border Counties, ending the additional vetting process that had applied to many residents seeking national identity cards.

County Commissioner John Cheruiyot reaffirmed the National Government Administration Officers’ (NGAO) commitment to supporting grassroots registration efforts, describing the national identity card as an essential document for every Kenyan.

He directed chiefs and their assistants to use public barazas and other community forums to sensitize residents on the importance of acquiring national identity cards.

“As NGAO officials, we have been working closely with the Registrar of Persons to ensure our people obtain national identity cards. The ID is a vital document that enables citizens to access government services, register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) and many other essential services,” Cheruiyot said.

On Monday, speaking in Lafey sub-county of Mandera, health Cabinet secretary Aden Duale directed Deputy County commissioner and registrar of National Registration Bureau (NRB) to go to every village to conduct mass registration of people.

According to the CS, the area member of parliament will provide vehicle and transportation for the exercise as well as facilitation allowances for the officers engaging in the activities.

“This is not my directive but that of the President, and when someone gets his ID take them to IEBC to register as voters, we want this constituency to be not less than 50,000 registered voters,” he said.