Wetangula Offers Ksh.1M Award to Bungoma Chief Who Tops in ID & Voter Registration

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has announced a Ksh.1 million cash reward for the chief who leads in new Identity Card (ID) and voter registration in Bungoma County. The initiative aims to increase voter registration ahead of the next elections.

Speaking during a meeting with political leaders and administrators from Bungoma County, Wetangula urged them to capitalize on President William Ruto’s recent directive exempting National ID applicants from vetting. This exemption is expected to simplify and accelerate the registration process.

President Ruto had, in February 2025, signed the Presidential Proclamation on Registration and Issuance of IDs to Border Counties, easing access to the crucial document. Wetangula reminded leaders that the directive applies not only to the North Eastern region but also to border counties like Bungoma.

The Speaker questioned why Bungoma, despite being the third-most populated county in Kenya, had only registered approximately 600,000 voters in the 2022 General Election. According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Bungoma has a population of 1.6 million, a discrepancy he believes must be addressed.

To incentivize chiefs and their assistants, Wetangula introduced a competition where the top performers in ID and voter registration by mid-next year will receive Ksh.1 million.

“Bungoma is the third-largest county in Kenya behind Nairobi and Kakamega. But when you look at registered voters, Nakuru has 1 million, Kiambu has 1.2 million, Nairobi around 3 million, yet Bungoma is still at 600,000. How will we be taken seriously?” Wetangula questioned.

“I want to start a competition among the locations based on the numbers you have. By mid-next year, the chief and assistant chief who will have recorded the highest number of ID and voter registrations will receive Ksh.1 million,” he announced.

Additionally, Wetangula encouraged local leaders to promote the Social Health Authority (SHA) program to ensure residents benefit from the government’s healthcare cover.

This initiative is expected to boost voter registration and improve access to essential government services in Bungoma County. Stay tuned to Nairobian for more updates on political and governance matters in Kenya.

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Wetangula Offers Ksh.1M Award to Bungoma Chief Who Tops in ID & Voter Registration