The Kenyan government of Kenya has extended the fee waiver period for the replacement of national identity cards and the change of personal particulars.
In a special gazette notice dated April 30, 2026, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that Kenyan citizens are granted an additional six months to access the services free of charge.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Registration of Persons Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration makes the following Rules- THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2026 1,” read the gazette notice.
The announcement follows earlier directives by the CS to scrap waiver fees for six months period.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura later announced that the fee waiver will extend to 2027.
The move is part of broader efforts to enhance access to identification documents and streamline registration processes across the country
Legal Amendment Extends Waiver Timeline
Under the new directives, the waiver period is set to run from April 30, 2026, to October 30, 2026.
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This adjustment now resets the timeline, ensuring that citizens who may have missed the initial window still have an opportunity to benefit.
The extension is formalized under Legal Notice No. 76 of the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2026, issued pursuant to the Registration of Persons Act (Cap. 107).
The amendment revises Rule 13(2) of the principal regulations, replacing the earlier provision that allowed a six-month waiver from the rules’ commencement date.
“These Rules may be cited as the Registration of Persons Citation. (Amendment) Rules, 2026. 2. Rule 13 of the Registration of Persons Rules is amended in sub-rule (2), by deleting the words “a period of six months, with effect from the date of commencement of these Rules” and substituting therefor the expression “the period commencing on the 30th April, 2026 and ending on the 30th October, 2026”. Made on the 29th April, 2026,” read part of the notice.
Broader Reforms in Identification Services
The waiver extension is part of the government’s policy shift aimed at reducing barriers in accessing government services.
In recent months, the government has introduced a series of reforms designed to simplify the process and eliminate cost-related obstacles for citizens.
Among these measures are the removal of fees for first-time ID applicants, ID replacement, and personal details updates.
The government has also scrapped authentication fees for birth certificates.
Additionally, the government has eliminated extra vetting requirements that had previously applied to residents in border regions.
Replacement fee was initially introduced to curb misuse of the service by individuals who frequently lost their IDs after receiving them for free.
However, the government suspended the charges temporarily to facilitate easier access to voter registration ahead of the elections.
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Required Documents for updating ID Particulars
To apply for a change of particulars on your ID card, one is required to have several documents according to the set procedure by the government, which are usually used to prove legitimacy.
Documents required depend on the type of change being requested
- Marriage Certificate – for updating your name after marriage
- Deed Poll – for formal name changes not related to marriage
- School Leaving Certificates – to help support name verification
- Sworn Affidavits – for changes like the addition of names
- Confirmation Letters from the Administrative Office – usually from the local chief
- Birth Certificate – to verify date and place of birth
- Copy of Parents’ ID Cards – in cases where parental information is needed
- Parental Consent to Marriage or Change – for specific situations
- Divorce Certificate – if reverting to a former name after divorce
