Led by Nubian Rights Forum Executive Director Shaffie Ali, the community claimed they were being subjected to what they termed as unfair vetting processes to ascertain their nationality.
“It seems the announcement that vetting has been removed was just a statement because members from the community are still being subjected to the process,” Ali claimed.
He further alleged that children from the community are being told to verify their Birth Certificates before being issued with ID cards.
“Our children cannot access HELB loans because they don’t have IDs, they cannot go to school without a Birth Certificate. We need to be given equal opportunities,” he stated.
During the Iftar dinner at State House in April, President William Ruto announced that he would soon issue a policy document to provide ways for how people irrespective of their region can get IDs.
“I’m going to be issuing a policy document to make sure that we have a mechanism that is similar to other Kenyans so that we don’t discriminate based on religion or region," Ruto said.
“Every Kenyan should be treated equally. We have changed the old policy and have concluded the policy documents. Beginning May this year, there will no longer be vetting for people who want to get their IDs,” the president told Muslim leaders.
Vetting became a requirement for issuing ID and birth certificates in Northern Kenya following the Shifta insurgency of the 1960s, which the Northern Kenya communities viewed as ethnic profiling and discrimination.
Last year, the government embarked on steps to address historical registration challenges in Northeastern Kenya and surrounding counties to ensure residents in the region receive National IDs.
Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok said that the government will review policies on the mandatory vetting of residents in Tana River, Isiolo, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, which has been a precondition for issuing IDs and other registration documents.