Ajabu Africa News

By:

Harrison Maina

Posted:

Apr,17-2015 09:59:54

BOSTON---The planned Kenyan National ID registrations at Sunday's Boston Kenyan Festival in Lowell will not attract an entry fee and will be carried out in a separate, independent room next to the cultural celebration venue.(Click here for ID requirements or scroll to the end of this page). Pass ports will not be renewed on sunday as that function is carried out online at the embassy website.

The clarification came from the Kenya Embassy officials at Washington D.C in response to reports of confusion among some in the Kenyan Community in Boston worried that the Kenya government was charging an entry fee to access the vital consular services.

However, the new generation ID registrations will still take place at the Lowell Lodge of Elks located at 40 Old Ferry Street (Behind JJ Boomers) in Lowell from 12 noon to about 11pm at night on Sunday, as the 2^nd Annual Boston Kenyan Festival concurrently takes place next door.

According to the embassy officials, H.E Robinson Njeru Githae, the Kenyan envoy to the US will be at the site to open and officiate the crucial service at 12 noon before joining Kenyans and other guests who will be attending the cultural celebration from 2pm.

Among other dignitaries expected to join the ambassador is Lowell Mayor, Rodney Eliot accompanied by several Lowell city councilors.

In addition to the entry fee clarification, the government officials also said that they will focus on taking applications for the new generation ID cards, a manual process that involves taking of fingerprints, as well as dual citizenship applications.

"We shall only be carrying out national ID registration exercise and dual citizenship applications for Kenyans on Sunday at the Lodge of Elks from 12 noon to 11pm at no entry fee to interested Kenyans.Those wishing to renew their Kenyan passports cannot do so on Sunday. Passports renewal applications can only be done online at the Kenyaembassy.com website," the statement clarified.

The officials urged Kenyans in the region to come out in large numbers on Sunday to take advantage of the services brought closer home at a convenient and easy to reach location through the commendable efforts of the New England Kenyan Welfare Association (Nekwa).

Praising the Kenyan association for the initiative to celebrate the Kenyan Culture and pride in Boston, embassy officials said that they were looking forward to supporting and working with the organization to continue improving many neglected aspects of the Kenyan welfare in the New England community in line with the newly launched Kenya Diaspora Policy that emphasizes more on the need for organized groups in the Diaspora as vehicles for community advancement.

During the Sunday event, Nekwa has lined up several traditional groups from different Kenyan tribes to entertain guests in a display of the cultural diversity in Kenya.

In addition to the cultural dancers, several local youthful musicians including Donald Sheii and Wangari Fahari will entertain fans, as well as a several other poets and performers expected.

However, a key ingredient at the cultural festival will be the baby sitting available provided by Nekwa in order to enable as many parents as possible have free time to take advantage of the consular services from the embassy with as little disruption as possible from children accompanying them.

According to Nekwa officials,Bouncing Castles and other kid's games will be at hand to keep the kids busy and thorough entertained in the expansive green backyard provided for free by the Elks Lodge host under the watchful eyes of adults socializing nearby with Kenyan patriotic music in the background.

"It has been 30 years since Kenyans settled in this region. We have never had a chance to come together to really celebrate our culture and identity as Kenyans and this is a good start. We urge all Kenyans in the region to come out in big numbers like we always do during other very important situations and help celebrate and build pride of who we are as a community," said a statement released by Nekwa.

And due to the massive interest that the event has created, Nekwa officials decided to extend the deadline for ticket sales to this Saturday at 5.00pm in order to allow more Kenyans buy tickets and still give organizers an extra day to make final seating and food arrangements.

According to the event program, lunch will be strictly served between 2.30pm and 4pm with late arrivals and door ticket buyers running a risk of missing out on available Kenyan cuisine of Barbequed goat meat, Ugali, Samosa, Bajia and more.

The tickets are going for $25 for an adult and $10 for children 11- 17 years old if purchased online or from several individual and store outlets before Saturday April 18 at 5pm. Children 10 years and under will have free entrance.

To Reserve an Adult Ticket, Click Here >>>
To Reserve a youth Ticket, Click Here >>>

To purchase tickets from churches, store fronts and individuals event supporters, choose from the list below.

Lowell:
Mercy Anampiu
Janet Koome
Eagle Christian Ministries International
PCEA Imani Church-
Marion's International
Salon D'Afrique

Worcester:
St. John's Anglican Church

Malden
Harrison Maina
PEFA Church-
Johnstone Irungu

Lawrence:
St. Pauls Community church Lawrence:Njuguna

Needed for National ID Application
Application Fee: $50
2 passport size pictures
Birth Certificate
Letter from your sub chief (have your people scan and text to you via smart phone for download in USA)
Lost ID- US or Kenya Police Affidavit

NATIONAL ID REQUIREMENTS

1.Each applicant has to appear in person with a dully filled REG.136D form.
2.Applications for National ID's will be accepted ONLY on Tuesdays and Thursdays ( Summer 9:30 am - 4:00 pm : Winter 9:30 am - 3:00 pm )
3.The processing of ID's will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the date of application.
4.All applicants are required to bring (3) 35mm x 45mm (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm) size photos taken on a white background.

5. Please note that holders of first generation (big ID) are considered first time applicants and should fulfill all the requirements as indicated below under section I.

REQUIREMENTS

I. FIRST TIME APPLICANTS AND HOLDERS OF 1ST GENERATION IDENTITY CARD

Duly filled form Reg.136A (availed at the Embassy)
Copy of Birth Certificate of the applicant
Copy of Valid Kenyan passport of the applicant
Copy of Kenyan passport and/or Identity Card of either parent of the applicant

The original 1st generation Identity card (Requirement for holders of 1st generation Identity card)

OR :

Copy of Certificate of Registration
Copy of Naturalization Certificate
Copy of Valid Kenyan passport of the applicant
The original 1st generation Identity card (Requirement for holders of 1st generation Identity card)

II. REPLACEMENT OF LOST/ DUPLICATE/ MUTILATED IDENTITY CARD: FEE $50

Copy of a police report or a notarized affidavit stating how you lost your Identity Card (for lost cases only)

AFFIDAVIT

Copy of the applicant's valid Kenyan passport
Copy of Birth Certificate of the applicant
Copy of the applicant's Identity Card (if available)
Original Identity Card ( for duplicate or mutilated applications)

III. CHANGE OF PARTICULARS

Original Identity Card of applicant.
Proof of marriage i.e. Copy of marriage certificate
Copies of the couples IDs
Please note for married ladies who wish to change their names both husband and wife need to be present during the application process.

NOTE

All applicants must submit the following :

1) A Money Order/Cashier's Check of US$50 (Payable to Embassy of the Republic of Kenya)
2) All applicants are required to print and complete form REG. 136D
3) A prepaid, self-addressed United States Postal Service (USPS) Express overnight or Priority mail with delivery confirmation return envelope must be submitted will all applications.

FORM

- REG. 136D

- AFFIDAVIT(for lost cases only)

Source:

Ajabu Africa News