President William Ruto has officially signed a decree abolishing the vetting process that Kenyans in the North Eastern region and other border counties have faced during the registration and issuance of National Identity documents.
At a ceremony held at the Orahey Grounds in Wajir Town, the head of state publicly signed and read the decree, stating that the move will put an end to a decades-long discriminatory practice.
“Our fellow countrymen from Northern Kenya will no longer suffer the indignity of being subjected to extra-vetting and ethnic profiling in order to acquire national identification documents,” the president declared.
“Vetting imekuwa ikisumbua vijana wa Northern Kenya kwa miaka sitini leo nimesema iondolewe,” added Ruto
The elimination of the ID vetting process was a key pledge in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto during the run-up to the 2022 general elections.
For years, residents of North Eastern have endured extra-vetting and ethnic profiling by the State before they acquire birth certificates and national identity cards.
“We want the people of Northern Kenya to feel equal to the rest of the country,” the President said.
