Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has defended President William Ruto’s recent move to scrap identity card (ID) vetting for residents of the North-Eastern region.

In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, February 22, 2025, Kaluma assured that this decision does not imply that identity documents will be issued indiscriminately. He explained that applicants would still be required to prove their citizenship before receiving any official documents. The relevant authorities, he added, would continue verifying applications to ensure only eligible citizens receive IDs and passports.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all applicants for identity documents will still have to prove they are citizens, and the authorities will still ensure this is so before approving the applications. The penalty prescribed by law against applicants and government officials who conspire/collude/connive to grant non-citizens identity documents is dire and remains,” Kaluma stated.

Kaluma emphasized that the issuance of citizenship documents, including IDs and passports, is strictly for Kenyan citizens.

He clarified that stopping the vetting process for applicants from border regions ensures equal treatment under the law for all Kenyans.

He further warned that legal penalties remain in place for both applicants and government officials who attempt to fraudulently acquire or issue identity documents. This, he said, serves as a safeguard to prevent non-citizens from obtaining Kenyan identification unlawfully.

“Application for citizenship documents (IDs and passports) is for Kenyans. Stopping vetting of applicants for identity documents from border regions is only to ensure that all Kenyans enjoy equal treatment under the law. It does not mean the relevant authorities will just issue the citizenship documents without considering all the relevant factors,” he noted.

No ID vetting

In his address then, President Ruto emphasized that the move seeks to end the long-standing discrimination faced by residents of Northern Kenya during the registration process.

“If it’s about vetting, let all children of Kenya be vetted equally without any discrimination. We want the people of Northern Kenya to feel equal to the rest of the country,” Ruto stated.

Speaking on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Orahey Grounds in Wajir Town, the Head of State noted that individuals from North-Eastern Kenya have historically faced additional vetting and ethnic profiling when applying for birth certificates and national IDs. His remarks came during his four-day development tour of the region.

Opposition

However, the directive sparked opposition from some leaders, including Mumias East MP Peter Salasya and Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya. Natembeya criticized the decision, warning that it could compromise national security by allowing Al-Shabaab operatives to infiltrate key sectors.

“One day we are going to have an Al-Shabaab as the president’s escort. Before they make any decisions, think. That’s why even Trump, as we talk now, is deporting people. There was a time when I think it was Uhuru who tried to put a barrier between Kenya and Somalia. What was the reason? This policy decision is a disaster. I’ve got a particular issue with even the recent removal of vetting of people before they are given identity cards,” Natembeya said.

He defended the vetting process, arguing that it played a crucial role in distinguishing civilians from criminals and insisted that Ruto’s decision was misguided.