President William Ruto has announced the waiver of national identification card replacement fees, a move aimed at ensuring every Kenyan can register as a voter ahead of the next elections.
Speaking on Saturday during the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) centenary celebrations in Nyang’ori, Vihiga County, President Ruto said the waiver will remain in effect until after the elections.
He explained that the fee, previously introduced to curb misuse of the service, would no longer stand in the way of eligible voters.
“We will make sure no one is denied the opportunity to register as a voter because of lacking an identification card,” the President affirmed.
Among those in attendance were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma) and Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), alongside several MPs and MCAs.
Infrastructure and Sovereign Wealth Funds
President Ruto also announced plans to establish two major funds – the Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund – to fast-track Kenya’s transformation and secure its economic future.
He explained that the Infrastructure Fund will focus on financing agricultural transformation, including irrigation, agro-processing, and value addition. The fund will also support industrialization and manufacturing, with an emphasis on increasing electricity generation to power industries.
“Currently, Kenya generates only 2,300 megawatts, which is not enough to take Kenya to the next level. A minimum 10,000MW is needed if we are to transform this country into an industrialisation and manufacturing nation,” President Ruto said.
He added that the fund will finance the construction of more roads, including dual carriageways and rural access roads that connect farmers to markets, improving economic productivity across the country.
On the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the President challenged Kenya to save for tomorrow and not exhaust all revenues.
He described the fund as a state investment fund owned by the government that will stabilize the economy, bring more national wealth, and bring back long-term financial return to make the country economically stable.
“We must save for the future and not eat everything today,” he said.
Privatisation and Health Sector Reforms
President Ruto commended MPs for approving Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2025 on privatisation of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), referring to it as a move in raising KSh130 billion for financing national development initiatives.
He urged Kenyans to unite and collaborate in unlocking the potential of the country.
“We must change this country. We cannot continue to talk without acting. Kenya is not supposed to be a Third World country,” he said.
The President also issued a stern warning to health facilities charging citizens for outpatient services at dispensaries, health centres, and sub-county hospitals, saying the government is already covering those costs.
He revealed that the government has fully paid health insurance for 2.5 million vulnerable Kenyans who are unable to contribute to the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme.
“As Government, we have disbursed KSh3.7 billion to pay for those who are unable to pay their SHA premiums,” Ruto said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to universal healthcare access.
He noted that the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to quality healthcare, and his administration remains determined to make that a reality for all citizens, not just the privileged few.
Mudavadi, Jalang’o Rally Support
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi commended President Ruto for articulating not just Kenya’s but Africa’s issues on the global platform, particularly in his recent address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He called upon the people of Western Kenya to rally behind the President’s agenda for transformation, noting that unity of purpose was necessary for progress.
Mudavadi also welcomed the restoration of concord among President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a deed of strong national unity.
“The absence of peace is chaos. The absence of order is disorder,” he said.
Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, known as Jalang’o, on his part, called on Kenya’s youth to register as voters, assuring them that not doing so would silence their voices in charting the country’s future.
“You can’t be partyless, voiceless, leaderless, voteless. Register to vote,” Jalang’o said.
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