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For two weeks, services at the Kilifi County Civil Registration Office had been grounded after Kenya Power reportedly disconnected supply over unpaid bills.
According to Kilifi County Principal Civil Registration Officer Robert Mbui, electricity was disconnected on July 4, over a Sh54,000 bill.
He said they had been forced to suspend all the crucial services; including processing of birth certificates, death certificates and identity cards, since then.
However, following an uproar from the locals on Saturday, the power was reconnected on Sunday evening.
According to Mbui, July 4, was the deadline they were given by Kenya Power to clear their arrears.
“Yes, power had been disconnected and we did not have access to any data or could not process any document. However, last evening, it was reconnected,” he said.
He said since the beginning of the year, the National government was yet to release the money allocated for electricity for the premises.
“This situation has caused disruption of operation in the offices and even those seeking services,” he said.
Kilifi County Civil Registration Office serves about 300 people a day.
Sidi Iha, 75, from Chasimba village in Kilifi South, said she had made several visits to the county registration offices to collect her granddaughter’s birth certificate in vain.
She faulted the government for failing to address the matter that has left thousands of residents across the county in dilemma.
“I have made several visits to the registration offices to acquire a birth certificate for my granddaughter but all my attempts were futile because of the power blackout,” she said.
“I’m afraid my granddaughter might be locked out from doing her final exams. I want the government to hear our cries and solve this matter.”
Kahindi Charo another resident, said the situation has given room for brokers to defraud unsuspecting residents.
He said he gave out Sh150 for a birth certificate application fee and an extra Sh2,000 to receive his document.
“The brokers demand a lot of money, but without them, you can wait for months or even years before you secure one,” Charo said. BY THE STAR