The politics and perils of relaxing vetting for IDs in Northern Kenya

For generations, residents of the northeastern counties had faced obstacles in acquiring IDs. [File, Standard]

When President William Ruto announced the scrapping of the 60-year-old vetting requirement for issuing national identity cards in Northern Kenya, many in the region breathed a sigh of relief.

For generations, residents of the northeastern counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, and Marsabit had faced obstacles not only accessing basic government services but also in asserting their identity as Kenyans.