President Ruto Announces No-Cost National IDs in Major Policy Shift

President William Ruto has announced that Kenyans will now receive national identification documents at no cost, reversing previous fees. He emphasized non-discriminatory access to IDs, following concerns raised by Kibra MP Mwalimu Peter Orero regarding the Nubian community. This directive is anticipated to draw mixed public reactions, especially among those critical of past ID fees.

On Thursday, during a working tour of Nairobi County, President William Ruto announced a significant policy shift regarding national identification documents (IDs). Effective immediately, Kenyans will receive IDs at no cost, reversing the previous directive that required Ksh300 for new applications and Ksh1,000 for renewals. The president directed all government registration agencies to implement this new directive promptly.

President Ruto emphasized the importance of equitable access to IDs, declaring, “I have said that matters of ID be issued without any discrimination. Every citizen should be given an ID card without discrimination.” He reaffirmed that there should be no questioning based on backgrounds during the process of obtaining these essential documents.

His commitment to free IDs came after a plea from Kibra Member of Parliament Mwalimu Peter Orero, who pointed out that many Nubian community members had been denied IDs due to stringent application requirements. Ruto’s directive aligns with prior orders to ease access in areas like North Eastern Kenya, where similar issues were raised.

While the announcement is aimed at providing relief and ensuring inclusivity, it is poised to generate varied reactions among the public and political leaders. Critics, including Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party of Kenya, have previously criticized the government’s ID charges as a tactic to disenfranchise youth in the upcoming 2027 elections. Notably, in May 2024, the Interior Cabinet Secretary had reinstated the charges that Ruto’s recent directive has now nullified.

President William Ruto’s declaration to eliminate fees for national identification documents represents a significant change aimed at improving access for all citizens, particularly marginalized communities. This move follows previous appeals for equitable treatment in ID issuance and is expected to ignite mixed reactions among the public and political figures. The future implications of this directive, particularly concerning voter accessibility, remain to be seen.

Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke