Most Kenyans do not know the challenges the Somali community in Kenya faces in obtaining identity documents such as ID cards and passports. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Nairobi, Mandera or Kisumu.

Nor does it matter whether you are born in North Eastern counties, Nairobi or any other county. If you are Somali by tribe, you are subjected to a discriminatory vetting process. I will cite my experiences. 

In 2018, I went to Langata administration offices to change a simple error on my ID card. The administration team at the office knew me. But to comply with the vetting requirements, I was asked to get a copy of the Kenya Gazette in which my election as Mandera County Senator was published. I served as MP and Senator but still, the profiling was applied to me simply because my home county is Mandera.