The High Court has directed the Principal Registrar of Persons to effect name changes on national identification cards for five transgender individuals within 21 days.
Those affected are Maurene Muia, Alesandra Ogeta, Maria Mbugua, Audrey Mbugua, and Dalziel Wafula. According to their lawyer, despite receiving a legal opinion from the Attorney General, the registrar had not made the necessary changes to their national IDs.
A deputy registrar confirmed receiving the advisory from the Attorney General but declined to make the changes, the court was informed. The applicants' lawyer stated,
"There has been no information either from the concerned ministry, they are taking this matter lightly."
Court Ruling ¶
Justice George Odunga noted that the case had been postponed several times to allow for a settlement. He emphasized that the Attorney General's legal opinion should have resolved the issue, saying
"inaction to carry out a statutory mandate is contrary to the Constitution."
The judge also ordered the respondent to bear the cost of the petition.
The recovered account cited reporting by Mediamax.
