Civil society raises alarm on expiry of new ID cards, say it is a plot to rig 2027 elections

The lobby groups, in a press address on Sunday dismissed the Maisha number issued to Kenyan adults in the new identification model. 

“What has been christened as Maisha number has expiry date. IDs are critical in matters to do with voting we want an explanation. It raises a lot of suspicion and one can see it is a scheme to rig elections in 2027,” the CSOs said. 

While demanding answers from government, the civil societies claimed that the new IDs are set to expire in 2032. This is the same time President William Ruto’s term will end – if he is re-elected in the 2027 polls. 

However, Citizen Digital can confirm having sighted a new ID card that expires in 2034, and not 2032 as claimed by the CSOs. 

In addition to revoking of Maisha Number, the CSOs also want President William Ruto to personally apologise for instances of police brutality witnessed in the anti-government protests. 

“As a show of good he should ensure those who have been abducted are released, those facing charges have those charges dropped and stop profiling young people,” they demanded. 

“Recognise media practitioners that have become their targets, we witnessed Macharia Gaitho abduction. Even that Francis Gaitho did not deserve the kind of treatment that Macharia Gaitho went through,” the CSOs stated. 

The CSOs have been at the centre of controversy amid the protests, this is after President Ruto accused them of funding the demonstrations. 

Ruto accused American organisation Ford Foundation of funding and sponsoring the protests, an allegation the group has denied.