Eldas MP Adan Keynan has defended President William Ruto’s recent directive to abolish the ID vetting process for applicants from Northern Kenya, stating that it will not lead to non-Kenyans acquiring Kenyan identification documents. Keynan assured that Kenya’s identification registration process remains robust and cannot be manipulated to favor non-citizens.
The directive has sparked political debate, with some critics accusing President Ruto of making the move as a strategy to increase his voter base ahead of the 2027 elections. However, Keynan dismissed these claims, insisting that the concerns are misplaced and taken out of context.
“Is it possible for non-Kenyans to apply for IDs? How would they do so? Applicants must provide their parents’ birth certificates and prove their Kenyan citizenship. This concern is misplaced—the issue has been taken out of context,” Keynan said during an interview with Citizen TV on Monday.
He emphasized that the existing documentation requirements make the process foolproof against fraudulent applications. “For someone to apply for a birth certificate, there is a process. You must demonstrate that you are a Kenyan citizen or that at least one of your parents is Kenyan. This requirement makes it impossible for non-Kenyans to fraudulently obtain identification documents,” he explained.
Keynan further stated that President Ruto’s directive aligns with Article 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination. He pointed out that the vetting process has historically been discriminatory and unfairly targeted communities in the northeastern region, particularly Kenyan Somalis.
“Vetting has been in place, but in practice, it has unfairly targeted specific communities. For instance, I am a Kenyan of Somali origin, yet I have never been to Somalia,” he remarked.
The MP clarified that his remarks should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of non-Kenyans acquiring IDs but rather as an effort to address historical injustices in the issuance of identification documents. He stressed that eliminating the vetting process would streamline access to national identification for legitimate Kenyan citizens who have faced bureaucratic hurdles for decades.
“The issue of IDs has colonial roots. However, I am not advocating for non-Kenyans to receive IDs, as that would pose a security risk,” he said.
Keynan reiterated that the stringent requirements in the registration process would ensure that only eligible Kenyans receive IDs. He lauded President Ruto’s decision as necessary for addressing the historical marginalization of Northern Kenya residents, who have long struggled with bureaucratic challenges in obtaining identification documents.
