Published as per The Daiy Nation
The planned issuance of second generation National Identity Cards to Kenyans living in Atlanta and its environs slated for this weekend has been called off.
In an email message to
the Nation, the head of the Kenyan Chancery in Washington, Ms Nairimas
Ole-Sein, said the embassy would not be able to carry out the exercise
as earlier planned.
“We however hope we will be able to
carry out the exercise at a later date and look forward to an
alternative proposal from the members of the Kenya Diaspora in Atlanta
and its environs,” read the email.
But a source at the
embassy told the Nation that the reason for the postponement was fact
that Ambassador Jean Kamau had travelled to Kenya before authorizing her
team to travel to Georgia.
“She is the only one who
can authorise our travel. Although she had verbally given the organisers
of the event in Atlanta the go ahead, she didn’t give any instructions
to the officers before she left,” said our source who spoke on condition
of anonymity as she is not authorised to talk to the media.
The
exercise was to coincide with celebrations to mark the 15th anniversary
of the Kenyan American Community Centre (KACC) in Marietta, Georgia.
Two
weeks ago, the embassy staff led by the Charge de Affairs processed
over 200 identity card applications from Kenyans living in the state of
Massachusetts.
“It was our inaugural programme where
we literally took services to the Kenyans rather than have them come to
the embassy. I must say it was very successful and we are happy with the
outcome,” said Mr William Mugo, the First Secretary in charge of
Consular Affairs in a telephone interview with the Nation.
Besides
receiving and processing applications at the embassy, the consular
officials plan to reach out to cities with high concentration of its
citizens renewing and issuing new cards. “We will work with the relevant
Diaspora Advisory Councils and community leaders like pastors to
assess the situation and determine whether or when we should visit the
cities”, said Evelyn Cheluget, the immigration Attaché.
The embassy in Washington DC serves Kenyans in the United States and Mexico.
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