NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyans will now receive national identity (ID) cards free of charge, following a directive by President William Ruto.
The move eliminates the Ksh.300 application fee for first-time applicants and the Ksh.1,000 charge for replacements, marking a significant shift in the country’s registration policies.
The decision was formalized through a legal notice issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on March 19, 2025.
The Kenya Gazette notice amends the Registration of Persons Rules, officially scrapping the previously required payment for ID issuance.
Speaking during a visit to Kibra, Nairobi, last Thursday, President Ruto emphasized that all Kenyans should be able to access identification without financial or bureaucratic barriers.
“Nimesema maneno ya ubaguzi kwa mambo ya ID tuyatupilie mbali; kila mwananchi apatiwe ID… bila malipo yoyote,” Ruto stated.
The directive follows months of policy uncertainty over ID application fees.
Initially, the government had proposed raising first-time application charges to Ksh.1,000 and replacements to Ksh.2,000.
However, after public backlash, the fees were lowered to Ksh.300 and Ksh.1,000, respectively, before being abolished altogether under the president’s latest order.
The elimination of ID fees aligns with President Ruto’s earlier decision to abolish the vetting process for ID applicants in border counties.
Last month, while signing the Presidential Proclamation on Registration and Issuance of IDs in Wajir, Ruto declared an end to the controversial vetting system, which had been widely criticized for discrimination against marginalized communities.
“Leo nimesema hiyo vetting imekwisha; hakuna kuendelea kuonea watu wengine,” he said.
The removal of fees is expected to increase access to ID cards, especially for youths, marginalized groups, and low-income citizens who have long faced challenges in acquiring crucial documents.
With the gazette notice now in effect, Kenyans aged 18 and above can apply for and receive their IDs at no cost, making the process more inclusive and accessible to all.
