Garissa youths are now worried that they will miss out in this year's KDF recruitment exercise due to lack of national identification cards.
Several form four leavers who spoke to this writer in Garissa town on Thursday said the officers at registration centers have been imposing tough processes to them, a fact that they claimed have left them without national identification documents several months after applying for them.
"I applied for my national card in February this year. I have the waiting card and to date I am yet to have my official national ID," said a youth only identified as Farouk.
The youthful residents aged between the ages of 18 and 29, further said they were extremely anxious to get the important documents, disclosing that they have had to contend with constant harassment by security officers who always demand to see their national identification documents.
“I have severally been arrested by police officers who demand that I give them my identification card, even within Garissa Town," said another youth aged 28, who added that the officers always question why he never had any identification document while the minimum age of having ID was 18 years.
Lack of official identity cards, they revealed, has led them become destitute because they can never seek any formal jobs or even engage in any form of legal business for they are not recognized as Kenyans.