Junet Mohamed Dismisses NTV Report on Ruto’s ID Policy for North Eastern Residents

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has dismissed claims that President William Ruto’s recent decision to abolish mandatory vetting for ID applicants in the North Eastern region is a political strategy aimed at securing votes.

 

His remarks came on Thursday evening in response to a report by Nation Media Group (NMG), which suggested that Ruto’s move might be a calculated effort to gain political support ahead of the next general elections.

 

The NMG report, citing expert opinions, raised concerns that scrapping the vetting process could pose security risks for the country. Security analyst George Musamali warned that eliminating the process could make it easier for criminals to acquire identification documents and operate within Kenya’s borders.

 

“The abolition poses a serious security threat, especially from groups like Al Shabaab and their sympathizers. We will end up dealing with a population that is not Kenyan,” Musamali stated.

 

Additionally, political analyst Fanya Mambo Kinuthia claimed that the decision was politically motivated, alleging that it could lead to the registration of non-Kenyans as voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

“What are we doing to our children? They risk being outnumbered by people who are not even Kenyan. This is all about increasing votes for 2027 because the government has lost favour with Kenyans,” he argued.

 

However, Junet Mohamed strongly criticized NMG’s report, asserting that North Eastern residents have a constitutional right to obtain identification documents without unnecessary hurdles.

 

“It is unfortunate that NMG has stooped to this level, especially at a time when people are mourning the passing of His Highness the Aga Khan IV. The Banyamulenge of Kenya must be granted their constitutional rights,” Junet stated.

 

The debate follows President Ruto’s signing of a Presidential Proclamation officially abolishing ID vetting in the region. The president defended his decision, saying it would ease the process for North Eastern residents to acquire identification documents without discrimination.