Residents of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera Counties are hurrying to ensure that they de-register as refugees before the deadline date of January 21.
The Kenyans were previously registered as refugees during the 90s when there was severe drought in the Northern part of Kenya and were helped by UNHCR as refugees.
This exercise of de-registration was to end on December 31, but was extended for two weeks by the Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery.
Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda explains the reason for the extension of the de-registration exercise.
“We realised the number of those seeking the service was growing and we could not have completed the exercise within a month. As we speak, we have processed nearly half of the applicants,” he said.
He further says those whose fingerprints are captured in the UNHCR database to undergo the vetting process that is taking place in all the sub counties of Garissa, Hulugho, Fafi, Masalani, Balambala and Lagdera.