Kisii Governor Simba Arati has called on chiefs across the county to spearhead efforts to trace thousands of residents who have yet to collect their national identification cards, warning that the backlog could lock many eligible citizens out of the voter registration process ahead of the next General Election.

Speaking to journalists in Kenyenya Sub-county, Governor Arati urged local administrators to work closely with the Kisii Registration Bureau to identify and locate owners of the uncollected IDs and ensure the documents reach them without delay.

According to the governor, the initiative is crucial in enabling eligible residents to register as voters and fully participate in the country's democratic processes.

"We want our chiefs to collaborate with registration officials, obtain the list of those who have not collected their IDs, trace them, and ensure the documents are handed over to the rightful owners. This will allow more people to register as voters ahead of next year's elections," Arati said.

His remarks come just days after the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security raised concerns over the growing number of uncollected identification cards during an inspection tour of the National Registration Bureau offices in Kisii.

The committee, led by Lari MP Mburu Kahangara, revealed that more than 12,700 processed IDs remain uncollected across the county despite significant improvements in document processing and issuance through the adoption of live capture technology.

Lawmakers noted that while Kisii County had recorded impressive registration figures—processing over 34,000 new ID applications and surpassing its target of 25,000 applications for the 2025/2026 financial year—the large number of unclaimed documents remained a major concern.

The backlog has emerged at a time when voter registration is expected to intensify, with leaders warning that thousands of eligible citizens could be disenfranchised if they fail to obtain their identification documents in time.

Governor Arati emphasized that chiefs, assistant chiefs, and village administrators have a critical role to play in ensuring no resident is left behind.

"The IDs are already processed and waiting for collection. What remains is to identify the owners and deliver the documents to them so they can access government services and exercise their constitutional right to vote," he said.

The county government and registration officials are now expected to roll out a coordinated campaign to reduce the backlog and boost voter preparedness ahead of the next electoral cycle.