Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale today received a warm welcome from a large and energetic crowd during a public rally in Isiolo County.
The people, especially the youth, were eagerly waiting for his speech. As soon as he took the microphone, the crowd started chanting “Simba! Simba!”—a Swahili word meaning “lion”—showing their strong support for him.
Duale, who is widely regarded as a kingpin for the Northeastern region, took to the stage to address the enthusiastic audience. In his speech, he reminded the people of a recent decision by President William Ruto that affects residents of border counties, including Isiolo.
He told the crowd that the President had signed a directive in Wajir to remove the vetting process for acquiring national identification cards (IDs) in border regions. This decision, he said, ensures that young people from Wajir, Kiambu, Isiolo, and the entire Northern Kenya region can get their IDs without unnecessary delays.
“The President, while in Wajir, put a signature saying that a youth from Wajir, Kiambu, Isiolo, and Northern Kenya will all be given IDs without vetting. I am telling the County Commissioner here in Isiolo that from yesterday, no Somali, Borana, Rendile, Turkana, or Samburu will be asked questions when asking for an ID,” Duale said.
The statement was met with loud cheers from the crowd, many of whom have faced difficulties in acquiring identification documents due to strict vetting procedures. For years, communities in border counties have complained of discrimination in the ID registration process, often citing delays and extra scrutiny compared to other regions.
By Newshub