Wamuzi News Ke
In a startling contradiction that has sparked intense public uproar, Huduma Kenya has announced that Kenyans seeking replacement national identity cards will still be required to pay a fee of KSh 1,000 — despite President William Ruto’s earlier directive that such replacements be issued free of charge.
The confusion emerged on Wednesday when Huduma Kenya held a media briefing confirming that the agency has not yet received formal gazettement of President Ruto’s directive and therefore cannot immediately waive the KSh 1,000 replacement fee. The statement runs counter to official communications issued by the presidency.
Two conflicting directives
On October 4 2025, President Ruto publicly announced that all Kenyans would receive replacement national identity cards at no cost to ensure that no citizen is disenfranchised ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, Huduma Kenya’s recent communication states that until legal and budgetary mechanisms are in place, the existing fee of KSh 1,000 for replacement ID cards must remain. The agency framed the cost as a temporary measure mandated by current regulations, while noting it had requested formal guidance from the Interior Ministry.
Why Kenyans are outraged
- Trust and transparency: Many citizens feel misled by conflicting statements from the presidency and the agency tasked with delivering identity services.
- Voter registration at stake: The replacement of lost or damaged IDs is critical to electoral participation. Any delay or financial barrier could disenfranchise large swaths of voters ahead of the next election cycle.
- Financial burden: KSh 1,000 remains a significant sum for many Kenyans. The mixed messaging gives rise to claims of unfair treatment, especially for low-income citizens.
- Institutional disconnect: The incident underscores coordination failures between the presidency, the Interior Ministry and service delivery agencies — raising questions about governance and implementation capacity.
