NAIROBI, Kenya, June 17 – Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has renewed calls for an independent forensic audit of Kenya’s population registration and identity management systems, arguing that concerns over the integrity of citizenship records cannot be addressed solely through assurances from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Muturi said recent remarks by the electoral agency that it does not register fraudulent individuals as voters fail to address the authenticity of the identity documents used during voter registration.
The former Attorney General noted that while the IEBC registers voters using national identity cards and valid Kenyan passports, it does not generate citizenship records, issue identification documents, or verify the foundational data used to obtain them.
“The Commission does not create citizenship records, issue identity documents, or independently determine the authenticity of the foundational data upon which those documents are based,” Muturi said.
According to him, individuals who obtain identity documents fraudulently through weaknesses in the country’s registration systems could still be lawfully entered into the voter register if those documents have already been recognised by the relevant government databases.
“If a fraudulently acquired identity document has already been entered into the Integrated Population Registration System and subsequently used to obtain an ID card or passport, the individual concerned may ultimately find their way into the voter register through an otherwise lawful registration process,” he said.
Muturi maintained that the debate should move beyond voter registration and focus on the integrity of the databases that establish citizenship and identity, warning that public confidence in electoral processes depends on the credibility of those foundational records.
He argued that concerns being raised extend beyond the mandate of the IEBC and touch on institutions responsible for immigration, citizenship registration and identity management.
“The answer is neither denial nor political rhetoric, but transparency, independent verification, and accountability,” he said.
The former AG said a forensic audit would help determine whether vulnerabilities exist within the country’s identity management systems and provide an opportunity to address them before they undermine public trust in elections and government services.
“A forensic audit would not weaken public institutions; it would strengthen them. If the systems are sound, the audit will restore confidence. If vulnerabilities exist, they can be corrected before they compromise public trust in future elections and government services,” he stated.
Muturi further described the integrity of citizenship records as a national security issue, urging authorities to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves.
