President William Ruto/Courtesy.
President William Ruto has announced that vetting will be abolished during the ID application process for some ethnic groups in Kenya from May 2024.
This process involves applicants, often Asians, Arabs, and Nubians who are not considered “citizens” in the country, providing proof of Kenyan citizenship to obtain an ID card. This has drawn condemnation over the years, accusing the government of racial and religious discrimination.
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On Monday, during an Iftar party for Muslim leaders at State House in Nairobi, Ruto said the government was changing the pattern of issuing identity cards to abolish a system he described as discriminatory.
“Every Kenyan should be treated equally. We revised the old policy and closed the rule book. From May of this year, there will be no more checks for those who want to get their identity cards,” the president told Muslim leaders.
“I will develop a policy document to ensure that we have the same system as other Kenyans and do not discriminate based on religion or region. we will still be keen with matters regarding safety but that should not be a reason for discrimination,” he added.
These include Kenyans of Somali, Arab, Nubian, and Asian origin. During the identity application process, as soon as they reach the age of 18, the authorities at the registration office ask them for additional birth certificates, such as those of parents and grandparents.
