Quarry workers in Bahati, Nakuru County, expressed their frustrations on Sunday after years of serving without any form of national identification due to distorted fingerprints.
The workers, who now lack clear fingerprints due to the nature of their job, claimed they were being denied identity cards each year after biometric machines used at registration centres failed to pick their fingerprints.
One of the workers, Moses Maina, said for twelve years he had attempted to obtain identification but was turned away in all attempts.
“They have tried every finger and thumb, but I don’t know why that machine does not accept any of them. I have done everything that the officers have told me to: scrubbed my hands with soap and water, even applied mustard oil,” said Mr Maina.
“My life is at a standstill as we speak. I am ageing and cannot even open a bank account to save the money I earn from the quarry business…I go a job at a hotel in Maasai Mara but could not even think of travelling that far because I have no ID card,” he said.
Registration officers in the area urged the workers to discontiue work for one year to allow natural healing of the scars and growth of prints, but many claimed mining was the only way to provide for their families hence could not stop.
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri urged the Government to provide gloves for the workers as suitable measures are taken up to provide them with IDs. Nakuru County Comissioner Joshua Nkanatha promised to help the workers obtain cards in due course.
“Let them come to my office and report; we will assist them.” said Mr Nkanatha.
