Government Announces Six-Month Waiver on ID Replacement and Amendment Fees
However, the government later reversed the policy in March 2025, scrapping all ID application fees a move now reaffirmed by Murkomen’s latest directive.
Murkomen further called on citizens to take advantage of the fee-free window to apply for either new or replacement ID cards before the waiver runs out. Photo/courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The government has introduced a six-month waiver on all fees related to the replacement of national identity cards and correction of personal details. The move is intended to make identification services more affordable and accessible to all Kenyans.
The decision was announced by the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen through a special gazette notice on Friday. Through the notice, Kenyans will not pay the charges that are usually linked to the replacement of lost ID cards or changes of personal particulars for the next six months.
The directive is effective immediately, expected to benefit millions of citizens who intend to upgrade or recover their identification documents. Murkomen explained that the waiver is part of a greater commitment toward fulfilling President William Ruto’s pledge of making it easier for Kenyans to acquire essential government services.
“The Government has issued a special gazette notice, which waives all fees for replacement and amendments of IDs for a period of six months,” Murkomen said. According to him, the move was in line with the ongoing reforms by the administration to eradicate financial and bureaucratic hurdles in the registration and identification process.
The Interior CS emphasized that the waiver comes on top of other recent changes effected by the government, such as free issuance of IDs to first-time applicants, removal of additional vetting requirements for residents in border counties, and an end to authentication fees for birth certificates required during ID or passport applications.
Murkomen further called on citizens to take advantage of the fee-free window to apply for either new or replacement ID cards before the waiver runs out.
Conflicting Announcements
This is the latest announcement amidst confusion earlier in the week when Huduma Kenya denied reports that the Ksh1,000 ID replacement fee had been suspended. This contradicted President Ruto’s October 28 statement, saying the government would lift the charges to ensure every eligible Kenyan obtains an ID card.
President Ruto said that although the replacement fees were meant to stop the abuse of free government services, the prevailing economic circumstances dictated it was prudent to temporarily remove the levies. “We will make sure no Kenyan misses the opportunity to register as a voter because they lack an identification card,” Ruto told the audience while mentioning that the waiver would remain in place until after the 2027 general elections.
In May 2024, then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki had gazetted new ID charges, setting the cost at Ksh300 for new applications and Ksh1,000 for replacements. However, the government later reversed the policy in March 2025, scrapping all ID application fees — a move now reaffirmed by Murkomen’s latest directive. The six-month waiver is expected to ease the burden for citizens while improving access to identification services, which are important for voter registration, access to public services, and national security management.
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