I have to think that it must be against the law to take and hold someone's ID. Very many office buildings in Nairobi require you to check in your ID when you come into the building. They take your ID, give you some kind of badge and the ID is that you will get your ID back when you return their badge.
It must be OK to request ID as a prerequisite to serving someone or to allowing them access to a facility or products or services but surely, it can't be legal to hold their ID. It is probably a violation of a law or a constitution somewhere. Does anyone have any idea of the legal position? Is there someone with enough financial/ legal muscle to make a case or an argument of this? I think it would be OK to require an ID, to examine it, and even to copy it but NOT to retain it for any period.
Joe
