Kip always knew he was a shapeshifter but he learned early on that he couldn't shift. He couldn't even tell what his second form was supposed to be. So he went to visit Sivoganik because he is supposed to be a shapeshifter but has never been able to change. Sivo examined him and tells him he is a latent and that he can help, however... there is a price to pay. Sivo tells him that his second form is a human and that he can give him an amulet that will allow him to shift but he must never take it off. The price? His senses will be dulled down to a human's level. So his keen tokota hearing, eyesight and sense of smell will at all times be no better then a human. Hence why he wears glasses in his toko form.