Frustrated youths in Nairobi took to the streets on December 16, 2025, to protest persistent delays in the issuance and replacement of national identification (ID) cards, citing fears of job losses and missed opportunities.
The demonstrations come as Huduma Kenya, the government agency responsible for public services, acknowledges intermittent downtime in its national ID system.
The lack of valid national IDs has created significant inconvenience for many young Kenyans, hindering their access to essential services such as employment, voter registration, and government offices.
Some protesters expressed concerns about losing their jobs due to repeated requests for time off to follow up on their ID applications.
Huduma Kenya issued an apology, stating, “Our Issuance of National IDs system is experiencing intermittent downtime. We apologise for the inconvenience and assure you that our technical team is working to resolve the issue.”
Aggrey Masai, Director of the National Registration Bureau, also confirmed efforts are underway to restore the system and dismissed claims of reintroducing ID replacement fees. However, there is conflicting information regarding ID replacement fees.
While President William Ruto previously announced the suspension of the charges, Huduma Kenya clarified that the Ksh1,050 replacement fee is still in effect, awaiting an official gazette notice for its waiver. The contradiction has added to public confusion and frustration.
The government also plans to acquire up to 300 live capture machines in 2026 to support mobile registration of national ID cards, particularly in remote areas. This initiative aims to register at least one million new ID holders next year, with ID cards ready for collection within seven days.
