A fresh political storm is brewing in the Mt Kenya region after leaders accused the government of deliberately delaying the issuance of national identity cards (IDs) in what they termed a calculated scheme to reduce the region’s voting strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The accusations come as both President William Ruto’s camp and the opposition scramble for the 6.3 million votes from the key Gen Z group.

Speaking on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, during a Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party grassroots election in Murinduko Ward, Kirinyaga leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed that the continued delays in processing national IDs are not merely administrative failures but part of a wider political strategy aimed at suppressing the youth vote, particularly in the Mt Kenya region, long considered a decisive voting bloc in national elections.

Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango led the criticism, saying the government’s failure to issue IDs on time is effectively locking out thousands of eligible young voters.

“This cannot be treated as a normal delay. In this digital era, it should not take five months for a young Kenyan to receive an ID. The government already has the data of every citizen. Technology must now be used to ensure faster processing,” Murango said.

The game of numbers

He argued that denying youths IDs at the age when they are expected to register as voters raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to democratic participation.

Murango further proposed the decentralisation of ID registration and collection services, calling for chiefs’ offices at the location level to be empowered to process and distribute IDs.

“Services must be taken closer to the people. Chiefs’ offices should be enabled to handle registration and distribution so that no young person misses the chance to vote,” the senator said.

On her part, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Jane Njeri Maina, who described access to a national identity card as a constitutional right and warned that the delays are undermining the democratic rights of young citizens.

“Every Kenyan who turns 18 must be issued with an ID without delay. Denying them this document is denying them their right to vote and their recognition as full citizens of this country,” she said.

Maina said the issue has become more urgent following the overwhelming turnout of Gen Z voters in Kirinyaga during the first day of the voter registration exercise, which she said demonstrates the political awakening among young people.

“The youth are ready to shape the future of this country. The high turnout in Kirinyaga is proof that Gen Z wants its voice heard,” she stated.

Despite the controversy, the high voter turnout by first-time voters in Kirinyaga has been hailed as a sign of growing political consciousness among young people, many of whom are determined to participate in shaping the country’s leadership.

Baragwi MCA David Mathenge took an even sharper political stance, directly linking the delays to what he called attempts to weaken Mt Kenya’s tyranny of numbers, a phrase historically used to describe the region’s numerical influence in elections.

“This is a deliberate political scheme. They want to reduce Mt Kenya’s numbers by denying young people IDs so they cannot register as voters. The government fears the voice and energy of Gen Z,” Mathenge claimed.

He argued that the region’s large youth population poses a significant political force and claimed that the delays are intended to dilute that influence.

The leaders’ claims come amid intensified political mobilisation efforts by the DCP party across Kirinyaga County, where aspirants and party officials are working to strengthen grassroots structures ahead of the next electoral cycle.