President William Ruto speaking at Alupe University in Teso South, Busia county, after launching the construction of a Sh1.17 billion student hostel facility, October 31, 2025. /PCSPresident William Ruto has warned Kenyans against giving bribes when applying for national identity cards, urging them to report anyone demanding money during the process to the police.
Speaking in Busia county on Friday, the President said the government had abolished all charges associated with the replacement of lost IDs or the correction of details, in a move aimed at ensuring every Kenyan has access to national identification.
“If you don’t have an ID, the fee that was being charged during application has been removed. You can now go and take your ID and if anyone asks you for money, report them to the police,” Ruto said.
His remarks came shortly after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen gazetted a six-month waiver on fees for ID replacement and change of particulars.
The waiver, which took effect immediately, followed amendments to the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2025.
According to the gazette notice dated October 30, the Sh1,000 fee previously charged for the replacement of lost IDs or changes in personal details will not apply for six months.
“Rule 9 of the Registration of Persons Rules is amended in subrule (4) by deleting the words ‘pay a fee of one thousand shillings,’” the notice states in part.
It adds: “The principal Rules are amended by adding the following new rule immediately after rule 12: The fees prescribed in respect of any matter under these Rules shall be the fees set out in the Sixth Schedule. 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 government said the waiver is part of its broader reforms to make identification services more accessible and efficient.
It follows earlier measures such as free issuance for first-time ID applicants, the abolition of extra vetting in border counties and the removal of birth certificate authentication fees.
Murkomen and Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the initiative aligns with President Ruto’s directive to ensure all Kenyans obtain national IDs, a critical document needed to access most government services and socioeconomic opportunities.
Speaking on the second day of his Western Kenya Development Tour, the President also underscored his administration’s efforts to create employment opportunities through multiple flagship projects.
He cited the Affordable Housing Programme, the jobs-abroad initiative and the establishment of ICT hubs in every ward to provide digital jobs for young people.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, we have put in place deliberate and intentional policies and programmes to create jobs for our young people,” Ruto said during the launch of the 1,025-unit Busia ATC Complex Affordable Housing Project, which he said would employ over 3,000 youth.
Ruto further announced a Sh200 million allocation for the completion of stalled lecture halls at Alupe University in Teso South to provide students with a safe and conducive learning environment.
He said that an initial Sh1.17 billion will be invested in the construction of student hostels at the institution, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in the country.
The hostels will include 1,025 modern units and feature social amenities such as a student centre, swimming pool and basketball court.
The President also revealed plans to construct 14 new modern markets across Busia County to promote trade and create employment.
In Teso North, he laid the foundation stone for the Sh350 million Malaba County Strategic Market, which will feature 1,000 modern stalls.
“These markets will expand trading opportunities, boost the earnings of hardworking entrepreneurs, and open up new jobs for our youth in Busia County,” Ruto said.
The President's day started at Bumbe National Polytechnic, where he broke ground for the construction of a 340-bed capacity hostel worth Sh154 million.
He later inspected the ongoing works under the Affordable Housing Programme at Nangina Centre, which will deliver 955 modern housing units before moving to Alupe.
