Kenyans will now receive Identification Cards (IDs) for free after Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen scrapped the Ksh300 application fee.
In a gazette notice dated March 19, Murkomen revoked the charges introduced in 2023 under the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules 2025, stating that ID registration should be accessible to all citizens without financial barriers.
“As per Section 16 of the Registration of Persons Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration has amended the Sixth Schedule to the Registration of Persons Rules by replacing the fee of Ksh300 for first-time applicants with ‘Nil’,” reads the notice.
Speaking at the launch of the National Mobile Registration Outreach Programme in Nakuru, Murkomen emphasized that the move aims to ensure all Kenyans have access to essential identification documents without financial strain.
He further scrapped the Ksh500 fee previously required for verifying details when applying for IDs and passports, assuring citizens that the government will now handle verification at no cost.
“There will be no charges for verification during ID or passport applications. The government will cover the process, and no Kenyan should be asked to pay anything,” he stated.
Murkomen also defended the decision to eliminate extra vetting procedures for residents in border counties, affirming that the government seeks fairness in document issuance. He noted that the previous vetting requirements also affected cosmopolitan areas like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru.
“For years, some Kenyans have been denied IDs due to their location. We have now removed that barrier to ensure fairness and justice, in line with President William Ruto’s directive,” he explained.
Additionally, he assured applicants that ID processing will now take only ten days from the time of application.
While easing the registration process, Murkomen reiterated that the government has put in place stringent measures to prevent fraud. He warned that security agencies will remain vigilant to ensure non-citizens do not acquire Kenyan IDs illegally.
“Verification controls will remain in place to prevent any fraudulent issuance of IDs. Any individual caught aiding or attempting to obtain a Kenyan ID illegally will face legal action,” he warned.
