BY COLLINS WALLAH, THE DISPATCH DIGITAL
Raphael Lukcy Nzau, the MCA for Matungulu West in Machakos County, has urged the government to lower the recently increased charges for civil registration services. Speaking at Kisukioni market on Wednesday during a registration exercise for birth certificates and identity cards, Nzau highlighted the economic hardship many residents face, making the new fees burdensome.
Nzau pointed out that the cost of obtaining a birth certificate has risen from Sh150 to Sh500. Additionally, acquiring a new identification card now costs Sh300, a service that was previously free. The fee for replacing a lost ID has also seen a significant hike, rising from Sh100 to Sh1,000.
“It’s too costly for some people to afford the payment, and the government should consider reviewing the charges of civil registration,” said Nzau.
The registration exercise was also conducted at Nguluni market and Mutalia dispensary within the ward.
On another pressing issue, Nzau addressed the impending teachers’ strike scheduled to begin on Monday, August 26, over salary disputes. He urged teachers to avoid the strike and seek a resolution through dialogue between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and their unions, KUPPET and KNUT. While advocating for dialogue, Nzau also called on the government to fulfill its promises to the teachers, warning that a strike would primarily harm students.
“As much as we are calling for dialogue between teachers through KUPPET and KNUT with the government through TSC, the government must also fulfill the promises it made to teachers, however long it takes,” Nzau emphasized.
