The government has announced plans to establish a new Huduma Centre in Elwak, Mandera South, to make it easier for residents of northern Kenya to access national identity cards and essential public services.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the facility, set to open soon, is part of President William Ruto’s directive to remove barriers that previously prevented locals from obtaining identification and other critical documents.
“The barriers that previously prevented you from obtaining IDs and other documents have been removed. It is your democratic right to access government services. I urge all residents across Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and surrounding areas to register in large numbers,” Ruku said during an outreach mission in Elwak.
The CS emphasized that holding a national ID is key to full participation in Kenya’s economic, political, and social life, including benefiting from government programs and opportunities.
Alongside the identity registration drive, Ruku unveiled a livestock restocking programme targeting pastoralist families who lost herds during the prolonged drought.
“The President is determined to ensure that every pastoralist who lost animals due to drought gets another chance. We are restoring livelihoods by restocking livestock,” he noted.
He also flagged off trucks carrying relief food and supplies to vulnerable households across Mandera County, assuring residents that the government has sufficient reserves to cushion all 23 drought-affected counties.
“No Kenyan will be left behind,” Ruku said.
The CS further highlighted ongoing government investments in the region, including expansion of electricity through the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, upgrading of roads to ease transport and trade, and construction of a modern market in Elwak.
On education, he said thousands of new teachers have already been deployed, with more to be hired to address staffing shortages.
Ruku also announced that the number of National Youth Service (NYS) recruits will double to 40,000 from 2026 as part of efforts to empower young people with skills and opportunities.
Underscoring the government’s broader commitment to resilience, Ruku said:
“The government is committed to assisting communities living in drought-affected areas and pastoralist regions to safeguard their livelihoods and protect themselves against recurring disasters that have previously led to deaths of millions of livestock.”
“Through proper disaster preparedness, management and recovery programs established through the State Department for Special Programmes, we will work with communities to put in place resilience measures.”
He assured Mandera residents that the State is better prepared to manage calamities that threaten high-risk communities.
“We will be well prepared to manage disasters that threaten communities living in high-risk areas and anywhere across the country,” he said.
Ruku was accompanied by several lawmakers, including Mandera South MP Haro Abdul, Dadaab MP Farah Maalim, Eldas MP Adan Keynan, Mandera County Woman Rep Umulkheir Kassim, Wajir County Woman Rep Fatuma Jehow, and Garissa County Woman Rep Amina Udgoon.
Local leaders welcomed the government’s interventions, urging residents to register for IDs and take advantage of the new services to drive development and secure future opportunities.