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{
    "id": 625115,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/625115/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 433,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) T.G. Ali",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 460,
        "legal_name": "Tiyah Galgalo Ali",
        "slug": "tiyah-galgalo-ali"
    },
    "content": "The current situation on issuance of IDs is a national shame if not a disaster. Three days ago, I was in my constituency and was embarrassed to be informed by my constituents that Kenya Army officers were stopping vehicles on the way, picking out ladies, men and the elderly because they did not have IDs. It is not the mistake of the community that they do not have IDs. On the Moyale-Marsabit Road, there is a whole contingent of Army lorries that are picking up people who do not have IDs. They are being harassed. Many of them have resorted to showing their left hand, which has the polio scar to be identified as Kenyans. Many of them have been beaten and taken into police custody because they do not have IDs. There are over 500,000 youth, elders and women who do not have IDs in Isiolo. We have about 54,000 registered voters and over 500,000 who have not been registered. This denies them the right to vote, get services and employment opportunities. I have a case of seven university students who cannot access loans from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) because they do not have IDs. They have been sent home and have dropped out of school because they do not have IDs. This is discrimination. This is trying to curtail their rights to own IDs. In my constituency, I have encountered women who do not have IDs for their children because their fathers have refused to part with their IDs. This is a serious issue that also needs to be handled. As we discuss the issue of IDs, there is double standard in policy formulation. We know quite a number of counties especially Isiolo, Marsabit and Moyale where, for example, a person who does not belong to the county or has not lived in the county for a long time should not be given an ID. We have people who have moved from different parts of this country to Isiolo, Marsabit and Moyale and they can easily get IDs because the vetting process favours them. Many of them have denied the local community job opportunities because the local communities cannot get IDs. We have police recruitment, judicial jobs and many others which the local community cannot access because we are sharing with other communities who have moved into the area and the vetting process supports them. This minority group which has been disadvantaged for many years should not be punished for things they have not called for. They should be given an opportunity to get IDs as soon as possible. It is easier to get a passport than getting an ID. Many parents are now flocking immigration offices to get passports for their children, so that they can register as voters. As I support this Motion, we should either give Kenyans IDs or we stop voter registration because it is not going to be fair. We are going to disadvantage areas that are supposed to be getting more voters. Thank you."
}