For countless members of Kenya’s ethnic-Somali and Nubian communities, obtaining a national identification card remains a decades-long struggle, effectively rendering them stateless.
Discriminatory vetting processes, a lack of essential documentation, and pervasive corruption within the registration system continue to deny them basic rights and services.
Rights groups have long condemned the vetting system, arguing that it grants unchecked power to committees and disproportionately targets Muslim-majority communities.
Without IDs, individuals are barred from accessing healthcare, education, and employment, and are unable to participate in elections.
President William Ruto’s recent pledge to abolish vetting committees in the region has been met with skepticism.
Critics argue that the move is politically motivated ahead of the 2027 elections and lacks a solid legal foundation.
Despite promises of reform, millions of Kenyans, including the 100,000-strong Nubian community, remain without national IDs, highlighting a systemic issue that undermines basic rights and citizenship.
The ongoing struggle underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure equal access to identification for all Kenyans.
