The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services eliminated the KSh 300 first‑time application fee in March 2025 as part of a wider reform of the national identity card system.

The reforms also removed a supplementary vetting step that had applied only to residents of certain border counties, a requirement that ended in February 2025.

Under the new rules, anyone turning 18 can visit a local administrator’s office for guidance before completing formal registration at a Huduma Centre or other registration office.

Local administrators, such as Senior Assistant Chief Alexander Kang'ethe in Isinya Sub‑County, now assist applicants in gathering required documents and submitting applications in person.

Kang'ethe notes that some applicants are receiving their national ID cards in about three weeks.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the changes aim to correct long‑standing inequalities in access to identification documents.

The National Registration Bureau remains responsible for processing the cards, while mobile registration outreach continues to serve sub‑counties and hard‑to‑reach areas.

A national ID is routinely required for employment, opening bank accounts, accessing education financing and enrolling in government programmes.