The Government of Kenya has announced a six-month waiver on all fees related to the replacement of national identification cards and changes to personal particulars, in a move aimed at enhancing access to essential identity services for all citizens
The announcement was made through a special gazette notice, published as Legal Notice No. 175 under the Registration of Persons Act (Cap. 107), and shared by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday, October 31, 2025.
According to the notice, the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2025 officially remove the Ksh1,000 fee previously charged for duplicate or replacement IDs, as well as updates to individual details, for a period of six months from the commencement of the new rules.
“The fees prescribed in the Sixth Schedule in respect of duplicate/replacement and change of particulars shall be nil for a period of six months, with effect from the date of commencement of these Rules,” the gazette reads in part.
CS Murkomen stated that the waiver is in line with President William Ruto’s directive to ensure that every Kenyan has access to a national identification card a critical document for accessing government services and economic opportunities.
“This waiver aligns with President William Samoei Ruto’s directive aimed at ensuring that every Kenyan acquires a national identification card. The document is an essential gateway to government services and other opportunities,” Murkomen said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
He further noted that this move complements a series of ongoing reforms designed to make ID registration more efficient and inclusive. These reforms include:
- Free issuance of national IDs to first-time applicants
- Abolition of extra vetting for residents in border counties
- Removal of authentication fees for birth certificates when applying for IDs and passports
“I urge members of the public to take advantage of this waiver period to replace or update their IDs,” Murkomen added.
The waiver is expected to ease financial burdens on citizens and accelerate the government’s goal of achieving universal national identification coverage within the next year.
