Kenyans will not be required to pay for the replacement or change of particulars on their national identification cards for the next six months, following a government directive announced by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

Murkomen, in a statement posted on his official X on Friday, October 31, 2025, said the waiver is part of the government’s broader effort to ensure all citizens can access essential documents without financial barriers.

“The Government has today issued a special gazette notice waiving the fees charged for the replacement of IDs and changing of particulars for a period of six months,” he said.

He added that the decision aligns with President William Ruto’s directive aimed at promoting inclusivity and ensuring that every Kenyan has access to the national ID, a key document required for accessing government services and economic opportunities.

“This is in line with President William Samoei Ruto’s directive aimed at ensuring that every Kenyan acquires the document, which is a crucial access point to government services and other opportunities,” Murkomen noted.

The announcement, published under Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 183 of October 31, 2025, officially amends the Registration of Persons Rules. The new amendment provides that the fees for both duplicate ID replacements and changes of particulars will be nil for six months, starting immediately.

The gazette notice reads in part that the replacement of IDs will be nil.

“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 statement reads

Murkomen highlighted that this move follows a series of reforms in the civil registration process aimed at easing access to national documents.

“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,” he said.

He urged Kenyans to make use of the waiver period, saying it offers a rare chance to update or replace their identification cards at no cost.

“I urge the public to take advantage of this waiver period to go for IDs,” Murkomen added.

The waiver takes immediate effect and is expected to ease the financial burden for thousands of Kenyans seeking to update their identification details.

Initially, Kenyans were required to pay Ksh1,000 for ID replacement.