Nairobi, May 5 -- The decision by the government to do away with vetting individuals applying for national identity cards (IDs) is a relief to thousands of young people.

The worst affected were youth in border counties, especially Northern, Coast and Western Kenya, who could be denied IDs on flimsy grounds.

As a result, some Kenyans do not have the documents or use their relatives' to register for key services. Those without IDs cannot vote.

A government agency team in Isiolo was astonished to realise that most people who registered for a workshop last week were using their relatives' IDs.

During campaigns for the presidency in 2022, Dr William Ruto pledged to ease the getting of IDs. He has since ordered the disbandment of vetting co...