Huduma Kenya Confirms ID Replacement Fees Still Apply Despite President Ruto’s Suspension Directive

 

By Emmaculate Cheruto 

Huduma Kenya has clarified that the government has not yet waived the fees for replacing lost or damaged national identity cards, despite earlier public pronouncements by President William Ruto that such charges had been suspended.

In a statement responding to a concerned Kenyan on Facebook, the government agency — which operates under the Ministry of Public Service, Delivery, and Performance Management — stated that citizens will continue paying Ksh 1,050 for ID replacement until an official Gazette Notice is issued to revoke the fees.

“Kindly note it has yet to be implemented. Charges for the replacement of ID are Ksh 1,050. The Ksh 300 was for first-time applicants; that is free now,” Huduma Kenya clarified.

The agency’s explanation came amid growing confusion online after several Kenyans questioned why they were still being charged for replacement IDs despite the president’s assurance that the fees had been suspended.

Ruto’s Promise to Scrap ID Fees

Earlier this year, President Ruto announced that his administration had suspended all fees related to national ID replacement, citing the need to ensure that no Kenyan is excluded from voter registration ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“We will make sure that no one is prevented from registering to vote due to a lack of an ID,” the president said. “Previously, we charged Ksh 300 for a new ID card, but currently there are no charges. Likewise, the replacement was Ksh 1,000, but we have decided to suspend the amount.”

Ruto explained that the initial purpose of the replacement fees was to discourage misuse of government services but added that inclusivity and access to essential documents now take priority.

Reforms in ID Registration

In February 2025, President Ruto also signed a presidential proclamation ending the controversial extra vetting process for national ID registration in border counties — a system that had long been criticized for ethnic profiling and bureaucratic discrimination.

The move was celebrated as a major step toward equality in access to citizenship documentation, particularly for residents in the North Eastern region, who had faced years of delays and additional scrutiny before being issued IDs and birth certificates.

Awaiting Implementation

While first-time applicants are now able to acquire their IDs for free, the continued imposition of replacement charges highlights a gap between policy announcements and administrative implementation.