Outrage as residents nab Ugandans holding Kenyan IDs ahead of 2027 general elections
Outrage as residents nab Ugandans holding Kenyan IDs ahead of 2027 general elections
Concerns are mounting in Busia County after residents raised an alarm over the increasing number of Ugandan nationals who are unlawfully holding Kenyan national identity cards.
The residents are raising concerns over the increasing number of foreign nationals who they say are accessing public services meant for Kenyans.
The issue has sparked debate among residents, with some claiming that the nature of the Kenya-Uganda border has made it easier for undocumented individuals to integrate into local communities and obtain official documents fraudulently.
According to residents, Ugandans are easily granted the IDs, while Kenyans find it hard to get the critical document.
The residents claim that despite the government removing the traditional nature of stricter vetting requirements, the requirement is still in place for Kenyans.
“We are not happy at all. Ugandans are coming in and getting ID cards without verification and vetting. But for us as residents, we find it hard to get the documents,” one resident stated.
“The vetting process is still there, especially for us as Kenyans, but Ugandans are getting it easily,” another one added.
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The rising number of Ugandans with Kenyan ID cards has raised questions over the credibility of the coming general elections in 2027, with fears that foreigners might be allowed to vote since they possess IDs.
However, officials attribute the rise in the number of Ugandans holding Kenyan IDs to the nature of the Busia border with Uganda.
There is less verification for Kenyans and Ugandans going to either country, as residents move in and out of either country at will.
Intermarriage has also been termed a major reason why the issuance has increased.
Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has, however, asked chiefs and local authorities to assess the Ugandans who are married in Busia to provide them with the critical document.
“Our chiefs should sensitise those who are in this country rightfully through marriage that they are able to acquire documents that make them legally able to be in this country,” Kipsang stated on Thursday, May 20, during a visit to the county.
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