President William Ruto has declared that Kenyans will now receive national identification documents for free, canceling previous fees for applications and renewals. This change aims to eliminate discrimination in the application process and follows a plea from a local MP regarding community access to IDs. Mixed public reactions are expected, reflecting past concerns about ID charges and their impact on youth voter participation.
President William Ruto has announced a significant policy change, declaring that Kenyans will now receive national identification documents (IDs) at no cost. This marks a departure from the previous government directive requiring fees of Ksh300 for new applications and Ksh1,000 for renewals. The announcement took place during Ruto’s final day of a four-day working tour in Nairobi County at Ayany in Kibra.
President Ruto ordered all government registration agencies to comply with this new directive, emphasizing that no Kenyan should face discrimination during the application process based on their background. He stated, “I have said that matters of ID be issued without any discrimination. Every citizen should be given an ID card without discrimination.”
The president’s decision was prompted by a request from Kibra Member of Parliament Mwalimu Peter Orero, who highlighted the difficulties faced by members of the Nubian community in securing identification documents due to stringent requirements. The MP urged the President to take action on their behalf and to enhance accessibility.
While the directive aims to address long-standing concerns regarding ID charges, it is anticipated to generate mixed reactions from the public and political leaders, given prior criticisms of Ruto’s policy announcements. Resentment towards ID application charges has been prevalent, particularly among the youth who fear these costs could disenfranchise them in the upcoming 2027 elections.
In May 2024, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki had revised ID application charges, mandating Ksh300 for new applications and Ksh1,000 for renewals, which drew considerable backlash from the populace.
In summary, President William Ruto has introduced a directive providing free national identification documents to all Kenyans, aiming to eliminate discriminatory practices within the application process. This change addresses concerns raised by community leaders about accessibility, especially for marginalized groups. However, it remains to be seen how the public and political figures will respond to this announcement, as prior objections to ID application fees indicate a complex political landscape ahead.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
