President William Ruto has declared that vetting for national ID applications in Northern Kenya and other historically marginalized regions will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking during a development tour of Mandera County, the head of state remarked that the vetting process has been discriminatory and had to be discontinued.
“Kesho niko na ceremony kubwa ya kuondoa, once and for all, ile maneno ya vetting ambayo ilikuwa inawagandamiza watu wa Northern Kenya. Wamefanywa kuwa kama si Wakenya wakati wa kutafuta kitambulisho au passport,” he stated.
According to the President, this decision will put an end to the decades-old practice that has left Kenyans in the Northern region feeling excluded.
“Enzi ya Northern Kenya kukaa ni kama si part of Kenya imeisha. Northern Kenya is as good as any other part of the Republic of Kenya,” he asserted.
“We must ensure that the children of Northern Kenya are not treated differently from those in other regions of Kenya,” he added.
In addition to addressing frustrations surrounding ID and passport issuance, President Ruto announced that his administration will initiate significant development projects in Northern Kenya to benefit local residents.
