Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. Photo/File
By Wesley Koech
North Eastern leaders on Tuesday, 11th February 2025, slammed the move by some leaders calling on re-imposition of vetting of identification cards for the Somali community Kenya, terming it unconstitutional.
Led by Wajir MP Adow Mohamed, the leaders said that they are entitled like any other Kenyans to enjoy their right as stipulated by the constitution and receive the same treatment as other communities and regions.
“We are asking to be governed according to the laws governing the people of Kenya and not to have unconstitutional practices like the vetting for ID cards imposed upon us,” the legislator said.
Praising President William Ruto for dismissing the law requiring them to be vetted before getting their identity cards, Adow said that whatever they have been exposed to previously is uncalled for and should not continue.
“The vetting process is one of the most undignified things that has been done to the people from North Eastern,” said Adow.
He called out Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya to retract their statements condemning Ruto for the move.
The two said that Ruto’s new directive endangers Kenya’s internal security.
“If you allow people just to walk in and get IDs without vetting, how do you tell the difference between a Somali from Somalia and a Somali who was born and bred in Wajir, Garisa and Mandera or Trans Nzoia?” posed the governor.
Adow said that they are patriots and what they do is to abide by the law as required by the constitution. He said they understand their responsibilities as Kenyan citizens.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan said that the allegations made were politically instigated, and that the said leaders should shun away from such critical matters, which should not be politicised.
“Such baseless assertions serve no purpose other than to politicize a matter that concerns the protection of human rights and the defense of constitutional justice,” said Keynan.
This follows a recent outrage by Natembeya claiming that Ruto is planning to benefit politically from the uplifting of the ban.
