Ruto Finally Breaks Silence On Foreigners With Kenyan IDs
President William Ruto has spoken out for the first time about accusations that foreigners are obtaining Kenyan identity cards after removing the long-standing vetting procedures for Kenyan nationals living near borders.
On Monday, June 1, the Head of State spoke during the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir, defending a declaration issued in February 2025.
According to Ruto, the proclamation aims to make it easier to register and issue identity cards and birth certificates in Northern Kenya and other impacted regions.
According to Ruto, the reforms were designed to address years of discrimination and unnecessary barriers experienced by Kenyan individuals seeking important registration documents.
“In February 2025, in Wajir town, I signed the presidential declaration on registration and issuance of IDs and birth certificates in Northern Kenya and other counties, ending the system of discrimination,” Ruto stated.
President Ruto: Kenyan identity cards(IDs) will only be issued to legitimate citizens of this republic. We did not abolish verification of citizenship, we abolished discrimination. pic.twitter.com/nczsEVkkHn— Abdihakim Siyad (@Abdihakimsiyad_) June 1, 2026
However, Ruto was quick to dismiss claims that the reforms were designed to relax citizenship requirements or allow non-citizens access to Kenyan documents.
“But let me be direct on what that declaration was not,” he added.
“It was not an invitation for foreigners to acquire Kenyan documents illegally; Kenyan identity cards will only be issued to legitimate citizens of this republic.”
Ruto emphasised that Kenyan identity cards would only be issued to legitimate citizens, insisting that the government remains committed to protecting the integrity of the country’s identification system.
He maintained that the declaration did not mean the government had abolished citizenship verification procedures.
Ruto insisted that it only removed what he termed unfair practices targeting communities in northern Kenya based on ethnicity or place of birth.
“We did not abolish citizenship verification. We abolished discrimination, the targeting of an entire community simply because of their ethnicity and place of birth,” Ruto said.
The remarks come amid growing public debate over the implementation of the February directive, with some critics raising concerns that easing documentation requirements in border counties could pose security risks.
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Reports have also indicated that in recent times, citizens of neighbouring countries were accessing Kenyan services since they were in possession of the identity cards.
In May 2026, Busia residents nabbed Ugandan citizens who were accessing services in the country.
This raised serious concerns over the credibility of the 2027 general elections, which are coming in less than 15 months.
But immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang attributed the possibility of foreigners having Kenyan IDs to the porous nature of Kenyan borders, especially with Uganda and Tanzania.
Kipsang also pointed out intermarriage activities between the neighbouring communities.
He called on the chiefs and local authorities to ensure that those who are married are not excluded from getting the document, but insisted that the document is strictly meant for Kenyan citizens alone.
Ruto Finally Breaks Silence On Foreigners With Kenyan IDs
