President William Ruto has said that the government has dropped the charge to replace national identity cards so that no one is turned away from registering to vote.
The President said that the cost was put in place to stop people from abusing the process by getting free IDs and then losing them and getting new ones all the time. He added that the free replacement window will be open until after the elections.
“We will make sure that no one is turned away from registering to vote because they don’t have an ID,” he stated.
The President spoke at the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) centennial commemorations in Nyang’ori, Vihiga County, on Saturday.
There was also Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma) and Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), MPs, and MCAs.
President Ruto also emphasised that the government is setting up two important funds, the Infrastructure Improvement Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund, to speed up the country’s change and protect its future.
He said that the Infrastructure Fund will assist in paying for changes in agriculture, such as irrigation, agro-processing, and adding value.
The President also said that the cash would help with industrialisation and production, such as producing more electricity to keep companies running.
“Kenya only makes 2,300 megawatts right now, which isn’t enough to move the country forward.” He remarked, “We need at least 10,000 MW if we want to turn this country into a country that makes things and has an industrial base.”
President Ruto also said that the Infrastructure Fund would pay for new roads to be built, including adding lanes to highways and developing rural roads to link farmers to markets.
He said that the nation has to preserve for the future and not “eat everything today” when he spoke about the development of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.
A sovereign wealth fund is a portfolio controlled by the government that the government uses for putting away extra money and other savings.
Countries set up these funds to keep their economies stable, increase their wealth, and make long-term investments that will protect the country’s future.
The President praised MPs for passing Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2025, which calls for the privatisation of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Limited. He said this will assist in generating KSh130 billion.
President Ruto implored Kenyans to work together to unleash the country’s potential and move it forward.
He remarked that Kenyans need to quit being okay with being a Third World nation, ordinary, and mediocre.
“We have to alter this nation. “We can’t keep talking without doing something,” he remarked. “Kenya isn’t supposed to be a Third World country.”
The President sent a strong warning to health institutions that charge Kenyans for outpatient treatments in health centres, clinics, and sub-county hospitals. He said the government is already paying for these services.
He also added that the government has funded health insurance for 2.5 million Kenyans who are at risk and can’t afford to pay the Social Health Authority fees.
President Ruto said that the Constitution ensures good health care for all residents. He said that the government is showing that it is serious about making healthcare in Kenya a right for everyone, not just a few wealthy people.
He remarked, “As the government, we have given out KSh3.7 billion to pay for those who can’t pay their SHA premiums.”
Mr Mudavadi praised President Ruto for speaking out about Kenyan and African problems in the world arena during the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary asked the people of Western Kenya to support the President as he works to change Kenya for the better.
He remarked that the fact that President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are both working towards the same goal of bringing Kenya together should not be taken for granted. It shows how committed they are to the country’s future.
“Chaos is what happens when there is no peace.” He went on to say, “Disorder is the lack of order.”
Governor Ottichilo added that authorities from Vihiga County are working closely with the national government to make sure that agreed-upon development initiatives happen.
He went on, “I want to let you know that we are carrying out the projects we talked about.”
Phelix Odiwuor, a member of the Lang’ata Parliament, asked young people to register to vote so they could choose the politicians they wanted to vote for.
He said that without a voter card, they would still not have a voice. You can’t be leaderless, voiceless, partyless, or voteless.” “Sign up to vote,” he urged.
Ruto Announces Free ID Replacements for Voter Registration
