Huduma Kenya has dismissed claims made by President William Ruto that the government has suspended charges for replacing national identity cards, clarifying that the KSh 1,050 replacement fee remains in force.
This comes after President Ruto announced during a public address that Kenyans would no longer be required to pay for lost or damaged ID replacements — a statement that sparked widespread excitement across the country. Many citizens had begun visiting Huduma Centres expecting to receive free replacements.
However, Huduma Kenya officials have since clarified that the directive has not been officially implemented. According to the agency, they have not received any formal communication from the Ministry of Interior or the National Registration Bureau to waive the fee.
“The KSh 1,050 charge for replacing a lost ID card is still applicable. We are yet to receive any directive from the relevant authorities regarding the suspension of this fee,” a Huduma Kenya representative stated.
The clarification has left many Kenyans confused and frustrated, with some expressing disappointment over what they described as mixed signals from government agencies. On social media, users questioned why public announcements are made before official policy changes are effected.
Analysts say the contradiction reflects a growing communication gap between different government departments. The President’s statement, though well-intentioned, appears to have been made before the necessary administrative procedures were finalized.
For now, Kenyans seeking to replace their national ID cards are advised to continue paying the required fee until an official gazette notice or circular confirms the suspension.
The incident has reignited debate about the government’s coordination on service delivery, with many urging state agencies to improve communication to avoid misleading the public.
