Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo
The Kenyan government is proceeding with its policy of eliminating vetting for national ID applicants despite security concerns raised following President William Ruto's February decision.
Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo addressed these concerns on March 12 during an interview on Spice FM, asserting that Kenya's strengthened security posture justifies the policy change, which also impacts birth certificate issuance in northern Kenya. Omollo emphasizes that the decision to eliminate vetting was reached after careful consideration. While acknowledging persistent external security threats, he points to Kenya's success in neutralizing new threats over the past two years.
He notes that terrorism incidents, often attributed to external sources, frequently involve Kenyan nationals. The government's policy shift has ignited public debate, particularly in light of President Ruto's ending of the immigration policy in place since 1960. This change extends to the issuance of birth certificates in northern Kenya, ensuring newborns receive immediate documentation and recognition as citizens, thereby facilitating access to national IDs.
Critics, including Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, a former regional commissioner, warn that eliminating ID vetting could compromise national security, particularly along the border with Somalia. President Ruto has dismissed calls to reinstate the process, arguing that it discriminates against residents of northern Kenya based on religious and tribal affiliations. The new policy affects all of Kenya's borders with Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Omollo has countered these concerns by stating that local chiefs and assistant chiefs will continue to verify applicants' identities to ensure that only eligible citizens receive national IDs. He maintains that the government is committed to ensuring equality in the issuance of identity documents and has only removed what he describes as an "extra vetting process." The government insists that streamlining the issuance of these documents will promote equality for all Kenyans while upholding national security.