The government has scrapped the Sh300 fee for first-time registration of national identity cards, following a directive by President William Ruto.
Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the decision on Wednesday during the national launch of a mobile ID registration drive in Nakuru, saying it was in line with the government's commitment to inclusiveness and fairness.
The CS has since issued a gazette notice amending gazette notice number 15495/2023 reviewing the fees for registration of persons, adding that new applicants' IDs will be ready within 10 days.
He added that the move was critical in ensuring that all citizens have access to identification services as many could not afford the required fee.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen (second right) during the mobile registration drive for issuing national identity cards on March 19, 2025 at Shaabab grounds in Nakuru City.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
In addition to scrapping the Sh300 ID registration fee, CS Murkomen announced that the government had also removed the Sh500 verification fee that applicants had to pay before receiving their IDs.
He said the presumption of validity of documents should be the responsibility of the government and therefore no Kenyan should have to pay to prove their eligibility.
The government has also stopped additional verification in certain areas, a practice that had disproportionately affected residents of northeastern Kenya and some urban, cosmopolitan regions.
According to CS Murkomen, this vetting process violated citizens' constitutional rights to equality before the law and equal treatment.
“I am pleased to announce that vetting has been discontinued, as it was a practice that unfairly impacted many communities. However, security agencies remain vigilant and will arrest anyone attempting to acquire a Kenyan ID illegally,” he stated.
To streamline the registration process, the government is rolling out a new digital enrolment system in all sub-counties.
This system will simplify and expedite ID registration, reducing delays and ensuring efficiency. The shift to a more technology-driven process is also expected to strengthen Kenya’s position as a leader in digital identity services.
“The government is committed to enhancing service delivery. That is why we are introducing enrolment kits that will allow for faster, more efficient registration of new applicants,” he said.
In addition, a post-issuance tracking system will soon be launched to allow applicants to monitor the status of their ID applications.
