Fact Check: President Ruto’s Claim on Free ID Replacement Sparks Public Outrage

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President William Ruto has come under sharp public scrutiny after making a statement in Marigat, Baringo County, that Kenyans can now access their national identification cards free of charge in all government offices.

The President, who is currently on a development tour of Baringo County alongside senior Kenya Kwanza leaders, made the remarks while addressing a large crowd at Marigat Market.

The Head of State confidently told residents that his administration had eliminated all charges associated with obtaining or replacing national identification cards, asserting that the process was now free to all citizens.

However, within minutes of the speech being aired live on several platforms, Kenyans began fact-checking the President’s statement, citing recent experiences that contradicted his claim.

A spot check conducted by several media outlets and fact-checking organizations has revealed that the replacement of a lost national identification card is not free.

At the Huduma Centre headquarters in Nairobi (GPO), applicants are still required to pay KSh 1,050 through the eCitizen platform before proceeding with the process.

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In addition, individuals are charged an extra KSh 50 at the Huduma Centre for cyber services before their photos are taken and details updated.

Similar charges were confirmed at Makadara Huduma Centre, Wote Huduma Centre, and Kakamega Huduma Centre, where officials maintained that the KSh 1,050 fee remains standard for ID replacements. This directly contradicts the President’s public assertion that the service is now offered free of charge.

According to records, the Kenya Kwanza administration itself introduced the KSh 1,000 replacement fee shortly after taking office, citing the need to streamline government revenue collection through digital platforms. The addition of a KSh 50 cyber handling fee has since become routine at most Huduma Centres nationwide.

Therefore, the President’s claim that his administration found the charges already in place and has since reduced or scrapped them does not align with the facts on the ground.

Officials at the Huduma Secretariat have not issued any circular or directive indicating the abolition of these charges, and the eCitizen portal still reflects the KSh 1,050 payment requirement for lost ID replacement services.

Following the President’s remarks, Kenyans quickly took to social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), to call him out. Many shared screenshots of recent eCitizen payment confirmations and receipts from Huduma Centres, insisting that they had paid the fees within the past week.

“Which Kenya is Ruto talking about? I paid 1,050 just last Thursday at GPO Huduma,” one user posted. Another added, “This government must think we don’t use the same services they do. Nothing is free — even getting your photo taken costs extra.”

The backlash has reignited debates over the accuracy of official government statements and the need for better communication between state offices and citizens.

Critics argue that the President’s repeated public misstatements on service costs risk eroding public trust in his administration’s promises.

Meanwhile, government spokespersons have yet to issue a clarification regarding the President’s remarks. Attempts to verify any recent policy change through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration proved futile, as no official notice or gazette has been published to that effect.

As it stands, Kenyans seeking to replace their lost or damaged identification cards are still required to pay KSh 1,050 via eCitizen, plus any additional handling fees at Huduma Centres — contrary to the President’s claim in Marigat.

The controversy adds to growing public concern over misinformation within official communication channels, particularly when statements made by top government officials are contradicted by verifiable facts on the ground.