Ruto Orders Free ID Issuance, Bans Discriminatory Vetting
President William Ruto has declared that Kenyans will now receive national identification cards (IDs) free of charge.
This marks a reversal of the government’s previous directive, which required applicants to pay Ksh300 for new IDs and Ksh1,000 for renewals.
Speaking at Ayany in Kibra, Nairobi, on Thursday, during his fourth day of a working tour in the county, Ruto instructed all government registration agencies to implement the directive immediately.
Additionally, he warned against any form of discrimination during the issuance process, emphasizing that all Kenyans should receive IDs without unnecessary vetting.
“I have said that matters of ID be issued without any discrimination. Every citizen should be given an ID card without discrimination,” Ruto stated.
“I want to announce here at Kibra that IDs should be issued without any payments and with a plan that is free from any sort of discrimination,” he ordered.
The president’s announcement came in response to an appeal by Kibra MP Mwalimu Peter Orero, who highlighted the challenges faced by the Nubian community in acquiring ID cards due to strict documentation requirements. The MP urged Ruto to issue a directive similar to one he had previously given for North Eastern Kenya.
While the decision has been welcomed by many, it is expected to spark debate, particularly among leaders who have criticized Ruto’s frequent policy pronouncements made during public gatherings.
For years, ID application charges have been a contentious issue, with politicians such as Martha Karua opposing them, arguing that they could disenfranchise unemployed youth ahead of the 2027 elections.
The now-revoked charges had been gazetted in May 2024 by then-Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, requiring Kenyans to pay for new applications and renewals.
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Ruto Orders Free ID Issuance, Bans Discriminatory Vetting
