Hundreds of learners in Wajir County received national identity cards within a week of registration, signalling the government’s commitment to end discrimination and speed up access to IDs in Kenya’s border regions.

In a move that affirms the government’s resolve to abolish the controversial vetting procedure and accelerate the issuance of national identity cards, hundreds of students in Wajir County celebrated today as they received their IDs barely a week after being registered.

Most of the beneficiaries were learners from Wajir Secondary School who had registered the previous week during the Ministry of Interior and National Administration’s Jukwaa la Usalama outreach in the county.

The registration was conducted by the National Registration Bureau (NRB) using the modern Live Capture Unit (LCU) system. This technology has significantly enhanced efficiency and improved access to ID services, particularly in remote and historically underserved areas.

During a colourful event in Wajir Town, students were officially handed their ID cards by Wajir County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo, assisted by County Registrar Galgalo Ofole and other NRB officials.

This marks an important step in addressing decades-old concerns of exclusion and marginalisation in Kenya’s border regions.

The changes stem from a directive earlier this year by President William Ruto, who instructed the discontinuation of the vetting process that had been selectively applied in North Eastern Kenya. The requirement was heavily criticised for disenfranchising residents and denying many young people timely access to national IDs.

“Following the scrapping of extra vetting requirements to register for IDs in border counties and the removal of fees charged on first-time applications, more people are turning up to register,” said Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen in a statement.

The Cabinet Secretary further observed that Kenyans can now receive their ID cards within three to seven days of registration—a remarkable improvement compared to the weeks or even months of delay experienced previously.

“This is a new era for the people of North Eastern Kenya. These IDs are not just cards—they are keys to opportunity, access, and full citizenship,” said Abdi Billow, a human rights activist in Wajir.

He added that the region had endured years of corruption, discrimination, and unjustified delays tied to the vetting process.

Murkomen also noted that the government intends to extend the reforms to other border counties to ensure equal and timely registration services for all citizens, regardless of location. He personally oversaw registration during his Jukwaa la Usalama tours in Mandera, Garissa, and Wajir.