Governor Natembeya Slams Ruto for Signing the ID No-Vetting Executive Order

Less than a week after President William Ruto signed an Executive Order waiving the vetting requirement for Northeastern residents applying for national identification documents, the decision has already begun to face criticism.

The latest to fault the directive of the Head of State is Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya who stated that it will have serious security implications for the country.

The Governor, a former security expert and Rift Valley regional administrator, maintained that the directive was ill-advised and would have serious diplomatic implications.

Natembeya warned that Ruto’s policy shift could allow individuals from outlawed terror groups to enter the country, obtain identification documents, and potentially infiltrate elective positions.

”This thing has a serious security implication, this is not something to just do anyhow as it will reach a point that even an MCA will be elected from the outlawed groups,” Natembeya warned.

”We will have further consequences when even a Governor, MP, and or even a President will be elected from the groups,” he added.

The Governor, known for his firm stance on government policies, further warned that the directive could allow criminal elements to infiltrate Kenya’s homeland security and disciplined forces.

”Those who abducted our chiefs will be given Kenyan national identity cards. So when they go on with their abduction exercises, they will carry ID cards,” Natembea noted

”Some of them will even infiltrate the security apparatus of our country including the police, military or even the President’s escort team will have its commander being a criminal.” 

Drawing a comparison to executive orders signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, Natembeya argued that Ruto should have taken a similar approach in handling national security matters.

”What is happening right now is that countries are seriously looking at the issue of making their borders non-porous. The USA for instance a bigger country is preventing people from entering its boundaries. How will it be that a small, underdeveloped country is opening its borders,” Natembeya urged.

Once a staunch defender of the government during his tenure as Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, Natembeya has now become one of the most vocal critics of the administration, particularly on matters of development and policy.