Gov’t Confirms Kenyan ID Replacement Fee After Public Uproar
Huduma Kenya has confirmed that replacing a lost national identity card remains free of charge, following fears that the government might have started charging a fee for replacements.
In a response on X, Huduma Kenya clarified that citizens will not be required to pay for anything when applying for a replacement ID.
“ID replacement is still free,” the agency stated, in response to an online user who asked whether the waiver on replacement fees had lapsed.
The inquiry highlighted concerns from youths who had lost their IDs and were eager to register to vote.
“Huduma Kenya is replacing an ID still free, or did they waiver lapsed? Some youths lost their IDs and want to register as voters,” the user asked.
The clarification followed President William Ruto’s directive allowing the replacement of lost IDs to be free of charge.
The directive also extended to those seeking the document for the first time, with the period extending to 2027.
The government had earlier set a renewal fee of Ksh 1000 and Ksh 300 for first-time applications.
The scrapping of the fees was aimed at increasing the number of ID card holders.
This follows reports that several youths aged 18 or older still did not have the crucial document due to the charges.
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Another aim was to increase the number of registered voters ahead of the coming general elections.
Following the directive by the Head of State, the government, through the Ministry of Interior, has intensified ID registration, especially in rural areas.
This has been successful through the Usajili Mashinani initiative, a mobile enrolment drive to reach underserved and marginalised regions.
The clarification comes at a time when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has intensified voter sensitisation and voter registration ahead of the 2027 general election.
Gov’t Confirms Kenyan ID Replacement Fee After Public Uproar
