Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a major policy shift in the government’s approach to identification and registration services, scrapping the long-standing extra vetting rule for border counties and promising easier access to birth certificate services in Busia.

Speaking during the Jukwaa La Usalama tour at Busia County on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Murkomen said the reforms were part of a deliberate effort to make documentation accessible to all citizens without discrimination.

“I was gratified to note that many residents are taking advantage of our reforms, which include the abolition of the extra-vetting requirement for ID applicants from border counties,” he stated.

For decades, residents in counties along Kenya’s borders have complained about the extra vetting process when applying for identification cards. Many described it as discriminatory, costly, and time-consuming.

Murkomen said ending the practice was necessary to restore fairness and ensure that citizens in border communities enjoy the same rights as all other Kenyans.

Focus on civil registration access

Murkomen also turned his attention to birth certificate services, a crucial area that affects education, healthcare, and access to government services. He assured families in Busia that the government would soon expand access.

“To ensure more residents conveniently access birth certificate services, we shall increase civil registration centres in the county in the next three months,” he said.

The CS acknowledged that long queues at the Busia Huduma Centre and delays in registration have placed an unfair burden on families, particularly those in rural areas. By increasing the number of centres, Murkomen said the government aims to bring services closer to the people and ease the frustrations of parents seeking essential documents for their children.

He explained that these reforms under the Jukwaa La Usalama program are not just about administrative efficiency but also about restoring dignity to citizens who, for years, have faced unnecessary barriers in accessing basic services.

Murkomen added that his ministry is monitoring the rollout of the reforms to ensure that they make a meaningful difference on the ground.

“Assessed ID and civil registration exercises at the Busia Huduma Centre as part of our Jukwaa La Usalama tour of the county,” he noted.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that the government’s responsibility is to ensure fairness and equal access to services. By abolishing the border vetting rule and promising more registration centres, Murkomen positioned the reforms as a step toward both justice and inclusion for citizens in Busia and beyond.