President William Ruto has announced that the government will waive the Sh1,000 fees charged for replacing lost or misplaced national identification cards.
Speaking during the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) centenary celebrations in Nyang’ori, Vihiga County, on Saturday, Ruto said the directive will stand until after the 2027 General Election.
“We will make sure no one is denied the opportunity to register as a voter because of a lack of an identification card,” he said.
According to the President, the decision is meant to ensure that no Kenyan misses the chance to register as a voter due to the lack of an ID.
He explained that the replacement fee had initially been introduced to curb abuse by individuals who frequently lost their IDs and sought replacements.
While initially, Kenyans could acquire and replace IDs for free, a directive was given in 2023 by then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki (now Deputy President), via a Gazette Notice, dated November 6, where Kenyans would part with Sh1,000 and Sh2,000 for the two services.
A few days later, the directive would be reversed following concerns from Kenyans to Sh300, down from Sh1,000, which had earlier been gazetted by the State for anyone who wanted to get an ID.
In the new proposal, Kenyans would now replace their lost IDs at a cost of Sh1,000 and not Sh2,000 indicated in the revoked Gazette Notice.
The cost of changing the particulars of an ID remained unchanged at Sh Sh1,000.
In March, Ruto would make another directive that Kenyans aged 18 and above be issued National Identification (ID) cards free of charge.
Speaking in Kibra Constituency during his fourth-day tour of Nairobi County, Ruto said the move aims to ensure that as many Kenyans as possible secure identification documents.
"I want to announce here in Kibra today that IDs will now be issued free of charge," President Ruto declared.
"Every Kenyan should receive an ID without any form of discrimination," he added.
Ruto’s directive followed public outcry over the inability of many Kenyans, particularly 18-year-olds, to afford the Sh300 application fee.
The opposition had also called on the government to abolish the high fees for first-time applicants, arguing that it hindered access to the crucial document.
Additionally, Ruto’s order came days after he lifted the vetting requirement for ID applicants in the Northeastern region.