Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has  lauded the government for reforms that he says  have removed long-standing barriers that previously made it difficult for many Kenyans to obtain national identity cards and passports.

Speaking during an iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto in Mombasa, Nassir praised the administration for streamlining the process of acquiring national identity cards, saying the changes have brought relief to many families across the region.

“Mr President, your administration has made it easier for our people to obtain national identity cards,” Nassir said. “For that we commend you, and we promise that the people of this region will remember these efforts.”

Nassir said the county leadership is now preparing to expand its registration drive to reach more residents who have historically struggled to obtain identification documents.

Nassir said the first phase successfully issued about 9,000 IDs within one month, targeting residents who had previously been excluded.

“After Eid, we will begin the second phase to reach everyone, including elderly citizens and marginalized groups who have struggled for years to get an ID,” Nassir said. “This is not about politics, it is about justice and ensuring every person can access their rights.”

He added that identification documents are key to enabling residents to fully participate in civic processes and access government services.

“Access to IDs allows our people to exercise their rights,” Nassir said. “Once they have them, we will support voter registration to guarantee that every eligible resident can vote in upcoming elections.”

On his part Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the reforms have helped end years of frustration among Muslim communities who had long complained of discrimination during the ID application process.

“For a very long time there has been discrimination against our brothers from the Muslim community, especially when they were trying to get national identity cards,” Kingi said. “But since you came to power, that has become a thing of the past.”

Kingi also signaled a renewed political push from the Coast, saying leaders would rally residents to support the president in the next election cycle.

“We will now visit all areas across the Coast to rally support for you,” he said. “I want to assure you of our support. The votes that used to go to Raila Odinga will now be yours.”