Minority party leader in the National Assembly, Junet Mohamed, has disparaged remarks by Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on the abolishment of the vetting requirement for people of Somali origin in the North Eastern region during the acquisition of national Identity Cards.
Speaking at the National Assembly on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Junet said that Natembeya does not qualify to be a leader in the country based on his earlier remarks.
“I was shocked to see a governor in this country shouting at the top of his voice from Trans-Nzoia, saying some Kenyans should not be given identity cards. A whole governor stands in a place addressing a gathering of Kenyans, and saying that other Kenyans must be discriminated against,” Junet said.
“That man does not deserve to lead anybody in Kenya; it is very disheartening, and he does not even deserve to be a village elder for coming openly to say that certain Kenyans should not be given IDs because of bordering certain countries, while his county borders Uganda.”
Recognition of border tribes
The remarks came after Taveta MP John Bwire led a delegation of Pare elders to the National Assembly gallery, where they delivered a petition seeking to be recognised as the 46th tribe of Kenya.
“Just like the people of Somali origin from North Eastern, the Luo from Mwanza, the Kuria people on the border with Tanzania, the Pare community living at the Taveta border with Tanzania needs to be recognised,” Bwire said.
The petition came just months after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki assured the community that their petition to be recognised would be escalated for consideration in January 2025.
“The petition that has been given to me by leaders and elders. I will take it up with relevant agencies and authorities and on behalf of the government of Kenya I want to promise that we will start, expedite and conclude the process of recognising the pare community to be one of the ethnic communities of the Republic of Kenya,” Kindiki said during a tour of Taita-Taveta County on January 14, 2025.
Natembeya clarifies stance
Natembeya had initially challenged President William Ruto’s directive, which removed the vetting of people from the North-Eastern region during the acquisition of IDs.
In an interview with a local TV station, Natembeya clarified the thorny issue, noting that he had nothing personal against the Somali people from Kenya getting their IDs.
“Just like we are saying the Bukusu from Uganda should not be given Kenyan IDs and the Maasai from Tanzania should also be vetted, the same should also apply to the North Eastern counties bordering Somalia,” Natembeya explained.
“I have previously worked as a District Commissioner (DC) in Kamukunji, and the Somalis loved me because I abolished the need for them to walk around with Kenyan IDs because they were being subjected to extortion by police officers,” he added.