Ruto halts charges for IDs as Kenyans pile more pressure

From left: National Registration Bureau staff Nancy Ingonga, Doris Mukasiali and Faith Nyongesa sort out second-generation and third-generation Maisha identity cards at Huduma Centre, Kakamega, on December 21, 2023. [File, Standard]

President William Ruto on Thursday made a U-turn on his controversial policy of imposing charges on national identity cards, and directed that the Sh300 fee for the vital document be scrapped.

Under pressure from Kenyans during his tour of Nairobi, the President said the government would end discrimination in the issuance of IDs. "Every citizen should be issued with an ID. I want to announce in Kibra today that IDs should be issued free of charge," Dr Ruto said.