In a recent Gazette notice issued by the Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, on Monday, 06 November 2023, significant revisions of various fees to access government services, have sparked a strong public reaction.
The gazette outlined several changes, including a notable increase in the cost of replacing a National Identity Card (ID) in case it is lost, from KShs. 100 up to KShs. 2000. New ID applicants will now cough a whooping KShs. 1000, a substantial new fee to the service that initially applicants would get free of charge.
In an unexpected twist, the fee for obtaining a marriage certificate has surged to KSh100,000, up from the previous KSh 30,000.
Those who lost their Kenyan citizenship that was acquired by birth and who ceased to be citizens of Kenya because they acquired the citizenship of another country, will now have to pay KShs. 50,000 to regain their Kenyan identity, marking a tenfold increase from the previous fee of KShs. 5,000.
A child of a Kenyan citizen born outside Kenya will now be required to pay KShs. 1 million to obtain Kenyan permanent residence, up from the previous KShs. 500,000 with an increment to the processing fees from KShs. 100,000 to KShs. 200,000.
The immigration fees and consular fees have also been revised, with a single-entry Visa to Kenya increasing from $50 to $100 and a multiple-entry Visa, now costing $500, up from the previous $100.
The gazette notice has also introduced changes to various fees, including renunciation fees, which according to Section 19 (1) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011 provides: Where a Kenyan citizen by birth voluntarily makes a declaration of renunciation of Kenyan citizenship, in the prescribed manner, the Cabinet Secretary shall cause the declaration to be registered. These have gone up to KShs. 50,000 from KShs. 20,000.
The planned changes will affect both Kenyans and foreign nationals once effected.