President William Ruto's decision to sign an executive order waiving the requirements for certain citizens from the border counties of the Northeastern region to be vetted before obtaining identification documents has continued to elicit mixed reactions with the latest being his newfound allies from the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM).
ODM, through its interim party leader Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, on Sunday directed its members to table the matter in Parliament when sessions resume next Tuesday.
This move is likely to be seen as a challenge to President Ruto, who has recently been vocal in defending his policy decisions.
According to Nyong'o, who was speaking during an ODM Western Region convention, the introduction of new laws on borders and boundaries poses a threat to the freedom of some citizens residing in border towns.
''Nobody, even the President, can imagine that you can create laws that govern movement across the border which makes it very difficult for people who live in a county to have their freedom and their protection,'' Nyong'o stated.
''I would like MPs to go to Parliament and make it very clear that any move by anybody, I do not want to mention names, to begin confusing citizenship on our borders when we know these are our counties and make a problem for any county which is a border county. That is completely unconstitutional,'' he added.
Nyong'o suggested that the President should have consulted the devolved units before issuing the directive, rather than making the decision unilaterally.
''We have 48 governments that are in this country according to the Constitution, that is one national and the county governments,'' Nyong'o added.
Other leaders who have faulted Ruto's order include Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya who stated that it will have serious security implications for the country.
Natembeya warned that Ruto's policy shift could allow individuals from outlawed terror groups to enter the country, obtain identification documents, and potentially infiltrate elective positions.
