NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 16 – Civil society groups have accused the government of maintaining a layered process for national ID applications despite President William Ruto’s earlier directive to abolish vetting.
The Nubian Rights Forum, Haki na Sheria Initiative, Namati Kenya, Haki Center, Pastoralists Rights and Advocacy Network (PARANET), and Pastoralists Women for Health and Education (PWHE) say applicants are still subjected to multiple steps that amount to vetting in all but name.
According to the groups, ID seekers are required to produce parents’ IDs or birth certificates, obtain introduction letters and thumbprints from chiefs, have parents appear in person to provide additional thumbprints, and undergo further checks by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and National Intelligence Service (NIS).
“These extra requirements are simply another form of vetting, disguised as a series of steps involving the same government departments. They open opportunities for arbitrary questioning, delays, and denials similar to the old system,” the groups said in a joint statement.
This followed a proclamation by President Ruto earlier this year scrapping the mandatory vetting process for national IDs. The move was seen as a relief for residents of Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa, who for years had faced extra scrutiny before obtaining identification documents.
The groups are calling for uniform and fair procedures across the country, and for amendments to laws that they argue still provide a basis for vetting.
“Implementing affirmative action measures to issue identification to allKenyans, especially those previously excluded from accessing documentsdue to historical existence of discriminatory vetting,” they added.
“Expanding the number of registration and identification offices and resourcingof these offices, especially in underserved areas of Kenya. The governmentmust also enhance the number and capacity of registration staff in thesecenters.”
