Stop vetting Kenyans for IDs, says Majority Leader Aden Duale

Leader of majority Aden Duale address the Press at Parliament Buildings on 10/10/16 [PHOTO MOSES OMUSULA/Standard]

Some 8,000 Kenyans from North Eastern cannot apply for ID cards because of their “refugee” status, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has said.

He said the youth from Garissa and Wajir counties have been denied citizenship since their names are still in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) database.

The Garissa Township MP has asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to form a task force in next one month to address the issue.

Duale said he will push for the removal of an in-house vetting process conducted by the Government on Kenyans living along the borders who seek IDs and passports.

“This process is unfair for indigenous Kenyans who all they want is to be recognised by their government so that they can enjoy the same rights as other citizens,” he said.

Duale said as much as the vetting system was initiated due to rampant infiltration of terrorist groups among citizens in North Eastern, security in the area has quite improved, hence none of the residents has to undergo the vetting.

“We know terrorists use IDs and passports to carry out their ill activities and that warranted the process. Unfortunately, even some government officials are using the excuse to get bribes from desperate individuals,” he said.

He said the vetting has been a disadvantage to the Somali and Muslim communities in Kenya.