A Kenyan police officer patrolling Migingo Island

Over 500 residents of disputed Migingo island have demanded to get national identification cards from the government.

They blamed the long distance from Nyatike sub-county headquarters at Macalder, bureaucracy and long time to get the IDs for lack of vital document.

Migingo Beach Management Unit chairman John Obunge said over 80 per cent of residents at the disputed island lack IDs and voters card.

The island falls under Migingo Sub-location, Muhuru Bay division with a population of over 3,000 which fluctuates with fishing seasons.

“Currently we have 300 youths who do not have the vital documents, the number can triple since the last time a drive was carried here was in last elections,” Obunge said.

He said lack of IDs has created voters apathy at the island saying on December 2012 Independent Boundaries Commission plans to create a polling center failed as they ony got 30 registered voters.

“When elections body wanted to make Migingo a polling center it failed, the same will happened ahead of 2017 if nothing is done,” Obunge said.