Members of Parliament are urging the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services to reassess and reissue the newly proposed charges and fees for its various services.
Concerns have been raised regarding the elevated costs, particularly those related to obtaining national identity cards and birth certificates, with MPs stressing the importance of making these services affordable.
“There is insufficient justification for the increased fees associated with applying for new identity cards or for replacing existing ones. The department should consider reducing these fees to encourage more Kenyans to apply,” stated Samuel Chepkong’a, chairperson of the Delegated Legislation Committee.
During a meeting aimed at evaluating the proposed regulations from the Department, Principal Secretary Julius Bitok faced scrutiny regarding the significant fee increases.
“Why should an individual correcting an error in their document be required to pay more than three times the amount charged to a new applicant? If the error was made by staff, citizens should not bear the financial burden,” remarked Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu.
The regulations under consideration include the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2024, and the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
Among the suggested modifications is a new fee of Sh300 for applying for a new ID card, a service that was previously offered at no cost.
Individuals who lose their ID cards or wish to update their information would now incur a fee of Sh1,000, an increase from the current charge of Sh100.
Other MPs, such as Pauline Lenguris (Samburu), Kibet Komingoi (Bureti), and John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), echoed the call for reduced fees, highlighting the challenging economic conditions faced by many Kenyans.
“This trend of raising fees for government documents and services is becoming increasingly concerning. We must be cautious not to adversely affect the average citizen,” stated Lenguris.
Komingoi further questioned the rationale behind the high fees, particularly in light of the government’s commitment to digital transformation.
In addressing the concerns raised, the lawmakers justified the decision by emphasizing its necessity in light of inflation.
“The fees are being updated for the first time in 36 years to account for inflation, which has increased tenfold,” he remarked, noting that the prices of raw materials have also risen significantly.
Chepkong’a expressed his discontent regarding the hike in birth re-registration fees from Sh100 to Sh1,000, suggesting that the fee should be limited to Sh500.
