RUTO’S ORDER IGNORED: Huduma Centres Still Charging Kenyans Sh1,000 for ID Replacement

A wave of public outrage is sweeping across Kenya after Huduma Centres continued charging Kenyans Sh1,000 for replacing lost national ID cards openly defying President William Ruto’s order to suspend the fees.

The President, while addressing mourners during the burial of Mzee Weston Kirocho in Laikipia on October 23, had announced a bold populist directive: no Kenyan should pay to replace or apply for an ID card, a move aimed at ensuring every eligible citizen can register as a voter ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“We will ensure no one is denied the opportunity to register as a voter because they lack an ID. Previously, we charged Sh300 for new cards and Sh1,000 for replacements, but we have decided to suspend all charges,” Ruto said to loud applause.

But barely a week later, Huduma Kenya under the Public Service Ministry issued a statement flatly contradicting the President.

“Hello, at this time, the ID replacement fees have not been waived. We are awaiting official confirmation through a gazette notice,” the agency announced on Wednesday, October 29.

The announcement triggered fury and confusion among citizens, exposing yet another glaring disconnect between Ruto’s pronouncements and the slow-moving bureaucracy tasked with implementing them.

“The President Lied to Us” — Kenyans Vent at Huduma Centres

At Huduma Centre GPO Nairobi, long queues formed early Wednesday morning. But instead of joy, frustration filled the air.

Many Kenyans arrived expecting free services only to be told they must still pay Sh1,000 for an ID replacement.

“I came here because I heard the President say the replacement is free. But they are telling us to pay. So who is lying the President or Huduma?” asked a visibly agitated Mercy Achieng, a university student who lost her ID in a matatu accident.

Another applicant, David Mwangi, a boda boda rider from Kiambu, said he had borrowed money just to replace his ID, believing the fee had been scrapped.

“This is betrayal. We believed the President’s words. How can I trust the government if they contradict each other like this?” Mwangi lamented.

In Mombasa, similar scenes played out as Huduma officials insisted they had “no official instructions” to stop charging.

“We cannot act on social media announcements. Until we get a gazette notice, the system won’t allow us to process free applications,” said one Huduma officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Inside Government Confusion and Bureaucratic Defiance

Sources within the Ministry of Public Service and the State Department for Immigration confirmed that no gazette notice had been issued to formalize the President’s directive.

“It’s true the President spoke ahead of procedure. The policy must be gazetted, and the Treasury must allocate funds to cover the lost revenue. Until then, Huduma Centres cannot waive the fees,” a senior ministry official told Kenya Insights.

But insiders suggest there may be more than bureaucracy at play hinting at internal power struggles and deliberate delays by civil servants unhappy with Ruto’s habit of making “off-the-cuff populist pronouncements.”

“There’s quiet resistance. Some people in government believe Ruto makes promises without consulting them, so they slow-walk implementation to embarrass him,” another insider revealed.

Public Trust on the Line

The contradiction has sparked a political and moral crisis, with many Kenyans accusing the administration of double-speak and incompetence.

Civil rights groups have condemned what they describe as “a government at war with itself.”

“This is a mockery of citizens. The President cannot make public promises only for his ministries to ignore him. It’s either he’s not in control, or someone is sabotaging him,” said activist Boniface Mwangi, calling for immediate clarification.

Political analysts warn that the standoff risks damaging Ruto’s credibility particularly among young and low-income Kenyans who make up the bulk of those seeking IDs.

“The symbolism is damaging. A President’s order should carry weight. The moment agencies contradict him, his authority is diminished,” noted governance expert Dr. Sheila Wanjiru.

A Government at War With Itself

As of Wednesday evening, no gazette notice had been published meaning the Sh1,000 replacement fee remains legally in place. Huduma Centres continue to collect the charges even as the President’s statement circulates widely online.

The Ministry of Public Service insists that it will act “once proper channels are followed.” Meanwhile, Kenyans continue to queue, pay, and fume.

“This country is broken,” said Grace Njeri, a trader in Nakuru. “When the President speaks, nobody listens. It’s like we have two governments.”

Until the bureaucratic standoff is resolved, President Ruto’s promise of free ID replacement remains little more than a speech while Huduma Centres quietly rake in millions from a service the Head of State swore would be free.