Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has faulted President William Ruto following his administration’s decision to remove a 60-year-old National Identity Card vetting requirement for residents of border counties.
Speaking in Kiminini, Natembeya said the President’s proclamation was poorly thought out and would likely compromise Kenya’s security and stability.
“Majority of the people looking for IDs in North Eastern are Somalis from Somalia. And the President is making a proclamation when five chiefs who were abducted have not been found. This thing (scrapping of vetting) has serious security implications,” the county boss said.
The former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner who served as an administrator for 25 years said Ruto’s decision has far-reaching consequences.
“They (Somalis) will have our IDs, they will then apply for our passports and later go to America and bomb buildings there. We will then be branded as bombers. I assure you we will be denied visas,” he furiously stated.
Further, Natembeya expressed his concern that in less than ten years, Somalis will dominate all elective positions in Kenya.
“There comes a time when MCAs, MPs, Governors and even the President will be foreigners. In fact some will join police service, KDF and even the Presidential escort will be a foreigner. That was a very wrong policy decision and it is going to injure us,” he added.
The tough-talking Governor said Kenya should learn from mature democracies like the United States of America that is trying to protect her territories.
“Countries in the league of America are doing all they can to protect their boundaries. How on earth can a small, undeveloped, primitive country open her borders so that people can flock in as they wish?” Natembeya asked.
Is Natembeta afraid of correcting the government?
Additionally, he said he does not fear to correct the government when it goes wrong.
Ruto’s decision is seen by political pundits as a strategy to create a new voting block in 2027 after seemingly losing the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region.
The Head of State lifted the vetting requirement after signing the Presidential Proclamation on Registration and Issuance of IDs to Border Counties at Orahey Grounds in Wajir Town, Wajir County.
Vetting was introduced in Kenya in the 1960s after the Shifta war insurgency (1963-1967) where between 2,000 and 7,000 civilians, hundreds of rebels and Kenyan security forces were killed.
