Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced the immediate revocation of authentication fees for birth certificates when applying for national identity cards and passports.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Homa Bay County on Tuesday, Murkomen said the directive was part of comprehensive reforms to enable easier and affordable access to essential documents.
“Effective today, civil registration services will no longer require authentication fees on birth certificates for the purposes of applying for IDs or passports. This step removes cumbersome financial hurdles and is in line with our vision to make identification more accessible,” he said.
The CS also said the government is considering abolishing fees charged on birth and death certificates altogether, noting that any Kenyan, regardless of income or geographical placement, should be able to access these critical documents.
To further reduce the burden, Murkomen announced that the cost of a replacement ID in the event of loss, currently set at Ksh1,050, is under review for reduction.
He also confirmed that the Ministry is undergoing policy review to formally recognise and document smaller or hitherto unrecognized communities that still face systemic difficulties with registration.
“Every Kenyan counts, and every Kenyan must be counted,” he maintained.
Murkomen also announced that they are going to introduce a new online platform where citizens can apply for IDs and even be able to track the progress of their applications online.
The system, he added, will provide real-time updates, thus making the process more transparent and citizen-friendly.
The government also intends to establish more civil registration offices around the country to bring services closer to citizens.
At the same time, Murkomen urged those Kenyans who are yet to apply for or collect their ID cards to do so forthwith so that they can vote in the 2027 general elections.
In a scathing statement, the CS also condemned politicians faulting the government’s fresh initiative to eliminate ID vetting in North-Eastern counties, stating that they are undermining efforts towards inclusivity.