Long queues have characterized the last days of huduma namba registration exercise as hundreds of Kenyans turned up to get the number but what’s hurting is that some rogue agents are soliciting for bribes to offer services.
Kenyans are rushing to beat the May 18 deadline with Interior CS Fred Matiang’i stated that the period will not be extended.
It has now emerged that some unscrupulous agents are taking advantage of the rush to ask Kenyans for money to speed up the process.
“I have been on this queue for over three hours, their machines must be very slow because the queues are moving very slowly,” a Kenyan said.
4:12 Friday in the am guys in line already for huduma number 👀
📷 by Rashid pic.twitter.com/sObgPOE4LD
— Grace Mwelu (@Gmwelu) May 17, 2019
However, there are reports that people are having to pay the officials tasked with the registration to pitch tent at offices and residential areas.
A man identified as Mougendi shared his shock on Twitter saying the officials had asked for Ksh.350 each for the process to be brought to their office.
Cost 1,000/- to register at Nyali primary 🤔
— tmutta| (@tmutta) May 15, 2019
Furthermore, a video has gone viral where one agent is seen asking for Sh300 per person as she claims the machines are faulty and she has to go for a new one.
The lady in the clip further assures those waiting to register that they will not have to queue once they part with the amount.
Kenyans online quickly weighed in on the matter and condemned the incident, calling for arrests to be made.
Here’s the video.
Activist Shiko Kihika shared online stating that the agents in Nakuru are demanding from between Ksh50 to Ksh200.
In Nakuru County some huduma number agents are charging between 50 to 200 ksh, for registration
— Shikoh Kihika (@Shikohkihika) May 6, 2019
We live in a society where "serikali" cannot be questioned and worse of where the community believes we must follow what the government says
— Shikoh Kihika (@Shikohkihika) May 6, 2019
An agent was quoted saying “Huduma Namba is free, tipping is a choice” defending the process adding the fee is just for “convenience.”
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale joined leaders who want investigative agencies to probe allegations that some Huduma Namba registration staff are demanding bribes to offer services.
So I'm getting info that if you have more than two kids, you are not getting registered, reason being you have too many kids and the chief needs some cash to make the process faster for you… https://t.co/FoxgHtBzCG
— Shikoh Kihika (@Shikohkihika) May 6, 2019
This is the latest setback to befall the controversial NIIMS registration, with less than 24 hours before the close of the whole process.