President William Ruto has maintained that the government will follow due procedure when issuing and processing national identification cards despite the removal of the vetting.
Speaking in Kilifi County on Friday, February 21, the Head of State maintained that the removal of vetting was to ensure that there is equity for all Kenyans.
He expressed that some Kenyans from some counties would be asked different questions when seeking IDs.
Therefore, he added that all Kenyans will be required to undergo the same process during ID application.
Read More
"I said during the campaigns that there are Kenyans who are asked different questions when they go and get the IDs. I said we shall remove the vetting and I have done it," he stated.
"It does not mean that the IDs will be given aimlessly, there are procedures that have been put in place on how the IDs should be issued. It is just that the procedure must apply equally to all Kenyans.
Further, Ruto wondered why a section of Kenyans were unhappy with the removal of the ID vetting given that the extra vetting was discriminatory to some Kenyans.
"I am shocked that there are people who have a problem with that," he remarked.
Earlier, leaders including Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya cautioned that the removal of the vetting would expose the country to some security risks.
"This is going to turn into a scramble for Kenya because they have opened the door to problems they won’t be able to stop. I am deeply concerned that terrorists could simply come in, and obtain IDs, and nobody would know their background. You just walk in, and you are given an ID," Natembeya expressed.
