NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi has called for the automatic issuance of national identity cards to everyone found within Kenya’s borders, arguing that the vetting process fuels corruption and discrimination.
In an interview on Citizen TV, Havi questioned the necessity of the stringent vetting procedures required for obtaining identification documents.
“What is the harm in registering anybody found within the borders of Kenya who was clearly born here? There is no harm. The moment you are found in Kenya, give everybody a national ID,” Havi said.
“We need to remove this vetting process because it breeds corruption. People are paying hundreds of thousands of shillings just to get registered as Kenyans or acquire a passport. Why? Removing these obstacles will eliminate corruption.”
Nelson Havi: What is the harm in registering anybody found within the borders of Kenya who there is no doubt was born in Kenya? Ideally, there is no harm. The moment you are found in Kenya, give everybody found in Kenya a national ID. To the extent that we need to remove this…
His comments follow President William Ruto’s recent signing of a Presidential Proclamation abolishing the controversial vetting process for ID issuance in the Northeastern region.
The move is intended to ease access to identification documents for residents who have long faced hurdles due to extra scrutiny and ethnic profiling.
“If it’s about vetting, let all children of Kenya be vetted equally without discrimination. We want the people of Northern Kenya to feel equal to the rest of the country,” Ruto declared while signing the decree at Orahey Grounds in Wajir Town last Wednesday.
For years, residents of Kenya’s northeastern counties have faced additional vetting before receiving birth certificates and national identity cards, a process that has been widely criticized as unjust and exclusionary.
The President’s directive is seen as a step toward addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity.
Havi, who was appointed in 2023 as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA), has recently positioned himself as a vocal critic of Ruto’s administration despite his government role.
During the interview, he also signaled his intention to break ranks with the President ahead of the 2027 elections.
“My contract with William Ruto was for five years, and as those five years come to an end, I do not propose to renew it,” Havi stated, making it clear that he does not support Ruto’s re-election bid.
Havi’s remarks have sparked debate, with some supporting his call for easier access to national IDs as a way to combat corruption and discrimination, while others caution that such a policy could have broader implications for national security and citizenship verification.
