Facing mounting criticism over failed policies and unmet promises, the government has reversed its decision to charge KES300 for first-time applicants seeking National Identification cards (IDs).

In a gazette notice dated March 19, 2025, the state announced the immediate removal of application fees for IDs and verification fees for passports. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the changes, marking a swift response to public discontent.

''There will be no amounts that will be paid on the application process of IDs. It will be free. Even for those looking for passports, if you go anywhere and you are required to pay KES500 for passports, do not pay,” Murkomen announced. 

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 16 of the Registration of Persons Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration makes the following rules— The Sixth Schedule to the Registration of Persons Rules is amended by deleting the expression ‘KSh300’ appearing as fees for the item ‘Not Previously Registered (NPR)’ and substituting, therefore, the expression ‘Nil,’” read part of the gazette notice by Murkomen, confirming the removal of ID verification fees.

According to Murkomen,,"verification will be the work on the part of the government. That is our responsibility and Kenyans should not be forced to pay anything.”

The government aims to register 70,000 Kenyans under the National Mobile Registration Outreach Programme, launched in Nakuru by the CS. Those who will register today are expected to receive IDs within 10 days.

The decision follows President William Ruto’s announcement last week in Kibra, where he declared that ID cards would now be issued at no cost. 

In November 2023, then Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki directed that new ID applicants must pay Sh300 and not Sh1,000, a fee that had earlier been gazetted by the State.

It is also at this time that the government revised the cost of getting an ordinary passport (34 pages) to Sh7,500 from an earlier Sh4,500, while the charge for acquiring the 50-page passport increased to Sh9,500 up from Sh6,000.

People seeking the 66-page passport were equally slapped with higher fees of KES12,500, up from KES7,500. Replacing a lost passport would cost Sh20,000, compared to Sh12,000 which is what the Immigration Department had been charging.

Additionally, a 50-page diplomatic passport would have seen one spend Sh15,000, double the price of the previous fee.

mjosphine@maudhui.co.ke