Kenyans will now have to dig into their pockets for the replacement of lost, torn, and worn out or mutilated ID cards.

The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that a Sh100 fee will be charged for the service. The charge will take effect from tomorrow March 15, 2018.

The charge will not apply to persons who have not been registered before.

“The Registration of Persons Rules is amended in rule 8 by deleting the words “shall not pay any fees” appearing in paragraph (6) and substituting therefore the words ‘shall pay to the authorized officer a fee of one hundred shillings’,” Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said in a notice.

According to section 16 of the Registration of Persons Act, the CS can proscribe the fees for a duplicate ID or for initial registration.

While making the announcement, Reuben Kimotho, the Director of National Registration, asked sub-county registrars to exercise accountability over the monies.

“Sub-counties managers will be held responsible for any incidents of mishandling the revenue,” he warned.

Kenyans have been enjoying such services for free when the then Sh300 fee, which had been introduced in 2011 by the then Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ was waived to encourage registration of voters ahead of the 2013 General Election.

A person replacing a lost ID requires a police abstract while those with unserviceable ones must surrender it to a registration officer and apply for a renewal, which takes about 10 days.