North Eastern MPs slam Natembeya, Kalonzo over ID vetting remarks

North Eastern Members of Parliament have criticised Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, over their remarks on the issuance of national identification cards (IDs) to Kenyan-Somalis living in the North Eastern region.  

This comes days after President William Ruto directed the removal of extra vetting prior to issuance of Identity cards to people living in border counties.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers from the north defended the president’s decision, arguing that the president’s directive removed an unconstitutional rule that should never have existed in the first place.

 "What the president has done is remove an unconstitutional practice. The vetting process is one of the most undignified experiences for the people from the North Eastern," Wajir South MP Mohammed Adow says.

"We have always been the first line of defense in protecting Kenya. If we were not the first line of defense, the country would not be as stable as it is."

 While putting more emphasis on Adow's remarks, Eldas MP Adan Keynan urged the two leaders to stop politicising a matter that seeks to suport a humanitarian cause.

“This is not something to play populist politics with. It may sound nice, but the consequences will be dire. And I’m saying this as someone who understands security very well. I don’t have a PhD in it, but from experience, I know this will cause problems. This is not about profiling any community—even people from Uganda are here, and they even join the forces.

A simple document, a small document, has serious implications. The president was not very well advised,” he said.  

Adow, however, maintains that people from the North Eastern region deserve to be treated with the same respect as other Kenyans, dismissing Natembeya’s remarks as discriminatory.  

"All we ask for is to be governed just like every other community and every other region in this country. We ask to be governed according to the laws of Kenya, without unconstitutional practices like the vetting of ID cards being imposed upon us," said Adow.

Speaking on Saturday, February 8, Natembeya criticised President William Ruto's decision to sign a presidential proclamation officially abolishing ID vetting for residents of the North Eastern region, warning that the move could have serious long-term repercussions on national security.  

Natembeya warns that President Ruto’s move to scrap ID vetting for North Eastern residents will have dire consequences pic.twitter.com/YHlekwZZE0 — The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) February 10, 2025

“If you allow people to just walk in and get IDs without vetting, how will you distinguish between a Somali from Somalia and a Somali born and bred in Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, or Trans Nzoia? There’s no difference—the clans are the same, the language is the same, the religion is the same, and the culture is the same,” Natembeya said.  

Ruto made the declaration on ID vetting during his  seven-day tour of the region last week.