Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that children as young as 14 are being issued national identity cards in the Rift Valley, adding a new claim to the growing controversy over identity documents and alleged electoral manipulation ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
Gachagua said the alleged issuance of IDs was taking place alongside voter registration activities during President William Ruto’s engagements in the region, raising questions about compliance with national registration rules and the integrity of preparations for the next election.
“IDs are being given to children as young as 14 in Rift Valley, and I want to urge parents in the Republic. Please don’t destroy the career of your children,” Gachagua said in an interview.
He did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation, identify the registration centres involved or explain how the alleged issuance of identity cards was connected to voter registration.
The claims come amid a wider national debate over alleged irregular acquisition of Kenyan identity documents, voter registration and fears of possible manipulation of the electoral process.
ID scandal puts election preparations under scrutiny
In September 2026, The Standard published an investigation examining allegations that Ugandan nationals had been facilitated to acquire Kenyan identity cards and voter cards ahead of the 2027 elections. The report raised questions about potential vulnerabilities in the systems used to establish citizenship and register voters.
The report intensified scrutiny of the National Registration Bureau (NRB), which issues national identity cards, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which registers eligible voters.
In a separate case, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations announced in January 2026 that nine suspects had been arraigned over an alleged scheme involving unlawful issuance of identity cards and other government documents.
The suspects included five NRB officers, two brokers and two foreign nationals. The accused pleaded not guilty, according to the DCI’s account.
The criminal case and the allegations concerning 14-year-olds in the Rift Valley are separate matters. No evidence presented in Gachagua’s interview established a connection between them.
IEBC rejects claims of electoral malpractice
The IEBC has rejected allegations of illegal voter registration and electoral irregularities associated with the wider controversy.
In a statement reported by Citizen Digital on September 28, 2026, the commission said: “To date no entity, organisation, group or individual has submitted to the Commission any credible evidence supporting any such allegations of illegality and malpractice
The Commission also maintained that issuing national identity cards falls outside its mandate, which covers voter registration and management of the voters’ register.
The IEBC’s response concerned the wider allegations of voter smuggling and registration malpractice. It does not, by itself, establish whether Gachagua’s specific allegation about identity cards issued to minors is true or false.
What the law says about ID eligibility
Kenya’s National Registration Bureau says national identity cards are issued to Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above under the Registration of Persons Act, Cap. 107.
Separately, Article 83 of the Constitution sets the requirements for voter registration, including that an applicant must be an adult Kenyan citizen and meet the other constitutional conditions.
An identity card issued to a person below the prescribed age, if established, would raise questions about compliance with registration procedures. However, Gachagua’s allegation alone does not prove that any minor received an ID or was registered as a voter.
Gachagua demands nationwide fairness
Gachagua said he intended to raise concerns about voter registration with the IEBC, arguing that registration exercises should be conducted fairly across the country.
“If the IEBC want to roll out voter registration, they must do it for the whole country,” he said.
He also questioned the presence of electoral registration equipment during Ruto’s regional engagements, although the interview did not establish precisely how the equipment was being used.
The National Registration Bureau and the IEBC had not provided responses to Gachagua’s specific allegation about 14-year-olds in the interview material supplied.
The central question remains whether any underage identity cards were actually issued, under what circumstances and whether the alleged activity had any connection to electoral registration.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, independently verified evidence and clear responses from the responsible agencies will be critical to separating substantiated registration irregularities from unverified political claims.
