Gachagua Warns of Gen Z Protests Over Alleged ID Discrimination

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has threatened to rally Gen Z youths to occupy government offices across the country over what he described as discrimination in the issuance of national identity cards.

Speaking during a church service in Gatundu North, Gachagua alleged that some regions, especially those believed not to support President William Ruto, are facing delays and obstacles in receiving IDs.

He claimed the move was a deliberate attempt to frustrate young people and limit their access to important government services.

He said the opposition would hold a meeting on Monday, April 6, to fully discuss the matter and decide on the next steps.

According to him, if the alleged discrimination is not stopped immediately, the opposition may call on Gen Z supporters to stage peaceful protests by occupying offices of the Registrar of Persons nationwide.

Gachagua insisted that every Kenyan has a right to receive an identification document regardless of their political background or where they come from.

In his remarks, Gachagua claimed that reports had reached the opposition indicating that ID issuance was being slowed down in areas that do not politically align with the current administration.

He warned that such a trend, if true, could deny many young people opportunities that depend on possessing a national ID, including access to jobs, financial services, and voter registration.

He further suggested that the youth, especially Gen Z, would be central in pushing for accountability because they have increasingly become a powerful political voice in Kenya.

The concerns come at a time when Huduma Kenya has also reported that thousands of important documents remain uncollected at various centres across the country.

These include about 152,398 national IDs, 85,550 smart driving licences, and 28,550 birth certificates that are still lying in government offices.

The backlog has raised fresh questions about whether the challenge is purely administrative inefficiency, lack of public awareness, or a deeper issue affecting accessibility in certain regions.

This has added more weight to the ongoing political debate around the ID issuance process.

The issue is particularly sensitive because national IDs are a basic requirement for first-time voter registration.

With the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission currently working to meet its target of registering 2.5 million new voters in the latest Continuous Voter Registration exercise, any delays in issuing IDs could directly affect youth participation in future elections.

Many young Kenyans who recently turned 18 may find themselves unable to register as voters if they cannot access their identity cards in time. This has made the matter both politically and constitutionally significant.

Gachagua also shifted attention to the IEBC following recent public confusion over voter records, especially concerning Kenyans who registered before 2012. Earlier remarks from the commission had created anxiety after suggesting that some voters might need to register again.

However, the commission later clarified that only those who did not undergo biometric registration in 2012 would need to present themselves afresh, assuring Kenyans that the current biometric register remains valid and credible for the majority of voters.

The former Deputy President said the opposition would also review the IEBC issue during Monday’s meeting before releasing a formal statement.

He maintained that the opposition wants full clarity on both the voter register and the reported ID delays, arguing that any uncertainty around these two issues could undermine public trust ahead of the 2027 political contest.

By linking the ID delays to voter access, Gachagua appears to be framing the matter as both a governance issue and a possible threat to democratic participation.

Overall, the controversy has now moved beyond a simple administrative complaint and is quickly becoming a major political issue, especially among young voters.

With Gen Z already playing a visible role in national conversations around governance and accountability, Gachagua’s warning signals that the opposition may increasingly rely on youth-driven pressure if their concerns over IDs and voter registration are not addressed soon.

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