Former Ijara MP Sofia Abdi has praised President William Ruto’s move to end the long-standing vetting process for national identity cards in Northern Kenya, describing it as the region’s true independence.

In a video posted on X on Monday, September 8, 2025, the former MP reflected on the gains of the 2010 Constitution and recent government reforms.

Abdi, who served on the 27-member Committee on Constitutional Review that produced the 2010 Constitution, said the abolition of mandatory vetting has finally given dignity to communities in the Northeastern and border counties.

For decades, residents of the region, especially the Somali and Muslim communities, were subjected to a discriminatory process before acquiring IDs. Chiefs and elders interrogated applicants about their lineage, leaving many feeling excluded from full citizenship.

In February 2025, President Ruto announced during a development tour in Mandera that his administration would revoke the vetting requirement once and for all. He said the practice unfairly treated Kenyans from Northern Kenya as foreigners in their own country. Weeks later, it was confirmed, signalling the end of a policy that had lasted more than 60 years.

On Monday, Abdi welcomed the decision and linked it to the broader vision of equality under the Constitution. She pointed out that the equalisation fund, a constitutional tool aimed at reducing regional disparities, together with measures protecting minorities, women, youth, and persons with disabilities, will shape the nation’s progress if fully respected.

She added that the Constitution is clear on rights and freedoms, urging the executive, parliament, and judiciary to uphold its principles.

“Personally, I want to thank you for the ID card issue in the North Eastern and border areas and for the Muslim community at large,” she said. “You have really given us independence. We got our independence when you became the president of this nation.”

Reforms spark support and debate

Her comments follow a growing wave of support from leaders in the region. On August 23, 2025, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said Ruto would go down in history as the first Kenyan leader to end discrimination in ID issuance.

Earlier in August, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku urged residents of Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, and Tana River to register for IDs in large numbers, noting that proper documentation opens doors to education, healthcare, business registration, and other services.

The changes have also raised debate across the country. Supporters argue that the reforms dismantle institutionalised discrimination and restore dignity to marginalised citizens. Critics, however, caution that the policy could pose security challenges in the border areas if non-citizens exploit the relaxed process.

Despite these concerns, Abdi insisted that equal treatment is essential for national unity. She emphasised that the Constitution remains one of the strongest pillars of Kenya’s democracy and urged leaders at all levels to honour its spirit.

For many residents of Northern Kenya, the lifting of vetting has removed a barrier that defined their relationship with the state for generations. Abdi’s words capture their relief and renewed sense of belonging: the right to an ID is no longer a privilege but a recognition of equal citizenship.