Owino Backs Scrapping Somali Vetting

Former police spokesperson Charles Owino has backed President William Ruto’s recent decision to eliminate additional vetting requirements for Somali residents applying for national identification cards in North Eastern Kenya, saying the move will help reduce corruption.
Speaking on a local media station on February 10, 2025, Owino explained that the extra vetting process, which required residents to appear before security committees, was not only discriminatory but also created opportunities for corrupt practices.

“The vetting which the Somalis were subjected to, to be honest, promoted corruption. We just created an opportunity for people to eat,” Owino said.

He pointed out that the standard vetting process for obtaining ID cards already includes sufficient verification steps for all Kenyans.

“Generally, we are all vetted when we take ID cards. For example, when my children go to take ID cards, they will be asked for a certificate for primary education, a KCSE certificate, and both parents’ IDs. You see, that’s a form of vetting,” he explained.

Owino highlighted the impracticality of the additional vetting requirements, citing cases where Somali residents born and raised in urban areas were forced to travel to remote locations for verification.

The former police spokesperson argued that the extra vetting process was ineffective in achieving its intended purpose.

“Even with this extra vetting people are still finding themselves here,” he noted.

“Some of these things we’re being cheeky, we can do without,” he added.