Lawyer Willis Otieno Slams President Ruto Over ID Fee Confusion

Nairobi, Kenya — Prominent lawyer and political analyst Willis Otieno has strongly criticized President William Ruto, accusing him of misleading Kenyans over confusion surrounding the national ID replacement charges.

The controversy erupted after Huduma Kenya clarified that the fee for replacing lost or damaged identification cards was still Ksh1,000, contradicting the President’s earlier declaration that the service would now be offered free of charge.

Speaking after the clarification, Otieno said it was disappointing that the Head of State continued to make public promises that were not immediately implemented.

“It’s disturbing that even on the simplest matters, the President cannot avoid giving false hope,” Otieno said.
“When a leader keeps changing his word, citizens begin to lose trust in government communication.”

During a public event on October 28, 2025, President Ruto had announced that Kenyans would no longer be charged for replacing lost IDs.

He said the government’s decision was part of efforts to reduce the cost of living and make it easier for citizens to access public services.

“We are suspending the Ksh1,000 ID replacement fees,” the President said.

“I urge all Kenyans who have not collected their IDs to do so before the 2027 General Election.”

However, Huduma Kenya later released a statement on Facebook, explaining that the new directive had not yet taken effect. The agency urged Kenyans to continue paying the current fee until an official notice was published.

“The charge for replacement of IDs remains Ksh1,050. The first-time application fee, which was Ksh300, is now free,” the agency posted.

“Once the new policy is officially published, we will share updates on our platforms.”

The conflicting messages have sparked widespread debate online, with many Kenyans demanding clarity on government communication.

Some citizens said they were turned away at Huduma Centres after assuming the service was already free, while others accused officials of ignoring the President’s orders.

Analysts believe the confusion could further strain public trust in government announcements if not quickly addressed.