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• Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen prolonged the exemption from ID replacement charges via a Special Gazette, allowing Kenyans until October 30 to comply.
• The action, established under the Registration of Persons Act, introduced a revised schedule that began on April 30, replacing the previous six-month period.
• Murkomen encouraged Kenyans to benefit from the waiver, connecting it to President William Samoei Ruto’s initiatives aimed at eliminating obstacles to critical services.
• The add-on is designed to enhance registration and participation, focusing on Kenyans who require replacements or updates to their personal information.

Didacus Malowa, a reporter for .co.ke, has more than three years of expertise in reporting on politics and contemporary issues in Kenya.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has announced a government exemption from charges for replacing national identity cards and updating personal information.

A Special Gazette Notice published on Thursday, April 30, officially confirmed the extension as per the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2026.

What is the updated schedule for Kenyan identification card replacement charges?

The announcement updates Rule 13 in the current regulations by changing the previous six-month exemption period to a new schedule that spans from April 30, 2026, to October 30, 2026.

Issued under the Registration of Persons Act (Cap. 107), the official announcement verifies that the extension is now in force, offering a new opportunity for Kenyans who need to replace lost or damaged identification documents or make changes to their personal information.

“These Rules shall be known as the Registration of Persons Citation (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Rule 13 of the Registration of Persons Rules is modified in Sub Leg. sub-rule (2), by removing the words “a period of six months, effective from the date these Rules come into force” and replacing them with “the period starting on 30th April, 2026 and concluding on 30th October, 2026,” as stated in the Kenya Gazette.

What advantages will the ID fee exemption bring to Kenyans?

On Friday, May 1, Murkomen stated in a released statement that the decision was intended to expand access to identification documents, which are still essential for many Kenyans.

The CS spoke plainly in his message to the public, encouraging every qualified Kenyan to make the most of the opportunity before it disappears.

“Today, we have released a Special Gazette Notice that extends the fee exemption period for replacing IDs and updating personal details for an additional six months. I urge all qualified Kenyans to utilize this exemption and apply for ID cards,” he stated.

The CS associated the action with the government’s efforts to eliminate obstacles that hinder Kenyans from obtaining vital services.

“We are dedicated to making sure every citizen can obtain essential identification documents to access government services and various opportunities. This initiative supports other efforts led by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto, such as eliminating fees for first-time ID applicants and the authentication cost for birth certificates, along with the elimination of additional verification for border communities,” Murkomen added.

Why is Ruto concerned regarding the Rift Valley area?

The news emerged just hours following the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declaring that more than 2.3 million new voters signed up during the one-month process, which was slightly below its goal of 2.5 million.

The Rift Valley became the leading area, with IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon highlighting impressive results from counties such as Uasin Gishu and Turkana.

However, Ruto expressed concerndue to limited participation in his political base, he cautioned that millions of qualified young people may be excluded because they lack identification or have not registered.