CS Murkomen: Usajili Mashinani Breaking Barriers, Restoring Dignity in Marginalised Communities

 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive service delivery, following the rollout of Usajili Mashinani — a nationwide mobile ID registration campaign targeting marginalized regions.

Speaking at Harambee House, Nairobi, CS Murkomen said the initiative, spearheaded by the National Registration Bureau (NRB), was launched after it became clear — through citizen engagement forums such as Jukwaa La Usalama — that many Kenyans, especially in pastoralist and ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) regions, were being left behind in accessing vital government services.

“We listened to Kenyans. From Turkana to Tana River, from the valleys of Elgeyo Marakwet to the plains of West Pokot, one thing was clear: access to national identification is still a major challenge for thousands. Usajili Mashinani is our answer to that challenge,” said Murkomen.

The mobile registration programme is currently active in 15 counties, with teams deployed to remote and rugged areas to reach citizens who have for years been cut off from national registration systems. The first phase of the programme is focused on Turkana, Baringo, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet.

“We are taking services to the people — not waiting for people to come to government. This is a government that works for everyone, no matter how far they live from Nairobi,” Murkomen said.

Hundreds of residents — particularly youths and elderly citizens — have already turned up at mobile centres to register for national IDs, a critical step toward accessing government services, financial systems, and social programmes.

Murkomen underscored the centrality of the initiative to President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), noting that meaningful transformation can only be achieved if every Kenyan is recognised and counted.

“You cannot be empowered economically if you do not legally exist in your own country. A national ID is more than a document — it is the gateway to opportunity, protection, and dignity,” he said.

The Interior CS called on regional administrators, elected leaders, and community elders to mobilize residents and support the exercise to ensure maximum reach and uptake.

He also noted that Usajili Mashinani will help curb historical injustices linked to documentation delays, especially in border regions where some communities have long been unfairly profiled or subjected to excessive vetting.

“We are correcting historical wrongs. Every Kenyan has the right to identity and to be treated with fairness and dignity — and we are making that a reality,” Murkomen affirmed.