President William Ruto has defended his decision to abolish the vetting process for Kenyans seeking national ID cards, emphasizing that the law will still be upheld.
Speaking in Kilifi during the funeral of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi’s father, Ruto said his move aims to ensure a level playing field for all Kenyans.
He reassured the public that the decision would not lead to non-Kenyans obtaining Kenyan IDs, as all legal procedures would still be followed.
“It is not that IDs will be handed out randomly—there is a procedure that must be followed. However, all Kenyans must be treated equally,” Ruto said.
“We cannot have two sets of laws for Kenyans. All Kenyans are equal and must be treated the same way.”
The president’s remarks came after his weeklong tour of north-eastern Kenya, where he announced an end to the vetting process for Kenyans seeking ID cards in the region.
The decision has sparked debate, with critics arguing that it could allow non-Kenyans to obtain ID cards without proper scrutiny.
Some leaders have also questioned the timing of the directive, suggesting it is part of a strategy to influence the 2027 elections by allowing an influx of foreigners to access IDs.
However, on Friday, Ruto dismissed these claims, stating that his goal is to ensure equality and fairness across the country.
“Regarding vetting, no Kenyan should be asked different questions from those asked of other citizens when applying for an ID,” Ruto said.
“All Kenyans must be treated equally.”
The president reiterated that he had promised during his campaign to create a fair and non-discriminatory system for all Kenyans.
“We will work together to ensure equity in this country. Some may be unhappy because we are advocating for fairness, and to them, I say pole (sorry), but we will continue to pursue equity,” he said.
“I stated
before the elections that there would be no discrimination, and we will keep
that promise.”
