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.

Authorities issued a warning on Thursday regarding potential traffic disruptions along sections of Thika Road due to a scheduled graduation ceremony at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

The ceremony is set to take place at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi, on December 5.

All KMTC campuses have sent their graduates to participate in the event, and police anticipate an attendance of over 10,000 students, with total crowd numbers possibly exceeding 40,000.

This influx is expected to put pressure on local services, particularly roadways in the vicinity.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei announced the deployment of additional police personnel to the area to ensure effective management of the situation.

He noted the likelihood of increased criminal activity, including muggings and thefts, in the crowded environment.

“We advise motorists to adhere to the directions provided by police officers present. We have augmented our personnel in the area as a precautionary measure to facilitate the smooth execution of the event,” he stated.

He mentioned that attendees began arriving as early as 3 a.m., indicating the scale of the event.

“We expect a significant number of individuals to partake in the celebrations. We are fully prepared for this occasion.”

He urged drivers utilizing Thika Road, particularly near the Kasarani area, to consider alternative routes due to the anticipated high volume of traffic.

Some drivers may be unfamiliar with the area, which could complicate navigation.

“It is advisable for motorists to avoid the vicinity if possible. We have stationed additional traffic marshals to assist in managing the flow of vehicles,” he added.

This marks the 93rd graduation ceremony for the college, themed “Fit-For-Purpose Health Workforce.”

The institution is recognized as a leading provider of health professionals in both the country and the region.

President William Ruto has signed the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which will allocate Sh387 billion to counties as their equitable share for the 2024-25 financial year.

Originally, the Finance Bill, 2024 proposed an allocation of Sh400 billion to the devolved units; however, the rejection of the Bill necessitated a downward adjustment to Sh380 billion.

The purpose of the Bill was to amend the Division of Revenue Act, 2024, to adjust the distribution of nationally raised revenue between the National and county governments, reflecting the revised expectations for ordinary revenue collection for the 2024/25 financial year.

The Bill was approved by the National Assembly on August 7 and subsequently passed by the Senate with amendments on October 3.

On October 16, the National Assembly rejected the Senate’s amendments, leading to the establishment of a mediation committee to resolve the deadlock.

This 18-member committee, co-chaired by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Mandera Senator Ali Roba, reached an agreement on Tuesday that added Sh7 billion to the counties’ allocation.

In reaching this agreement, the committee considered various factors, including the rationale behind the Sh5 billion reduction in county allocations from the previous year and the projected revenue shortfall of Sh346 billion.

The committee also reviewed the criteria used for revenue projections and discussed the final funding amounts for counties.

Additionally, they analyzed historical revenue collection data from the national government over the past decade, as well as county performance in generating local revenue.

The increased allocation to the counties now constitutes 24.67 percent of the latest audited revenue, significantly exceeding the constitutional minimum requirement of 15 percent.

The Act also designates Sh2.2 trillion for the National Government.

Attending the event at State House were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

Also present were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, along with various leaders from both Houses.

Additionally, President Ruto signed the Rating Bill 2022 and the Water (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Rating Act, 2024, establishes a standardized framework for property valuation and rating, providing counties with explicit guidelines for assessing property values and levying rates, among other provisions.

Conversely, the Water (Amendment) Act, 2024, facilitates Public-Private Partnerships to support the financing of water infrastructure development by National Government Agencies.