PS Omollo: ID vetting removal won't compromise Kenya's security

Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has dispelled fears of a possible hike in security threats stemming from the government’s decision to remove vetting for those seeking national IDs, especially from the border counties.

According to Omollo, the decision was well thought out and was informed by the fact that Kenya has experienced reduced external aggression over the years, adding that the country has neutralised many of the new threats.

“We are still dealing with external security threats, but for the last two years, we’ve been able to keep a good security posture,” said the PS on Spice FM on Wednesday, March 12. 

“Take terrorism, for instance, which looks like something external while in reality, a number of those incidents over the years have been carried out by people who are not necessarily from other countries,” he added.

The matter has come under sharp scrutiny from Kenyans following President Ruto’s February proclamation putting an end to the immigration policy that has existed since 1960.

The rule had also affected the issuance of birth certificates to children born in northern Kenya, who will now promptly get the document at birth, further easing recognition of their citizenship and access to a national ID.

While many critics hold that Kenya may be more vulnerable to security issues plaguing the neighboring Somalia, PS Omollo insists that the move aims to make all Kenyans equal by guaranteeing fairness in the issuance of the critical registration document.

“Let’s treat all Kenyans equally, particularly when it comes to giving them identity documents,” he said, adding that, “what the government has done, essentially, is to do away with the extra vetting.”

“We have the chiefs and assistant chiefs who will tell us this is a Kenyan born to so and so, they have attained the age of eighteen and therefore need to get identity cards.”

Trans Nzoia governor, Geoge Natembeya, who previously served as a regional commissioner, at the weekend put President William Ruto to task, challenging him over the abolition of ID vetting, which he insists will jeopardise the country’s security.

Ruto, however, dismissed the calls to resume the ID vetting process in northern Kenya, arguing that it discriminates against the region’s locals along religious and tribal lines.

The presidential proclamation affects all the borders Kenya has with Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.