Government Waives ID Replacement and Change of Particulars Fees for Six Months

 

The government has announced a six-month waiver on fees charged for the replacement of national identity cards and the changing of personal particulars, following a special gazette notice issued on Friday.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who signed the notice, said the move aligns with President William Samoei Ruto’s directive to ensure that every Kenyan acquires a national ID — a vital document for accessing government services and economic opportunities.

“This waiver follows our other reforms, which include free issuance to first-time ID applicants, abolition of the extra-vetting requirement for border counties, and the scrapping of authentication fees for birth certificates when applying for IDs and passports,” Murkomen said in a statement.

The CS noted that the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to make identification services more accessible, especially to marginalized and low-income citizens.

He urged members of the public to take advantage of the six-month waiver period to replace lost IDs or update their details, emphasizing that possession of a valid ID remains essential for accessing a range of government programs and financial services.

The waiver takes effect immediately and will remain in force for six months, according to the gazette notice.