Kindiki Revokes Planned Increase For ID, Passport Fees, Reveals Changes

The government has revoked a Gazette Notice dated November 7, 2023 which had announced an increase in service fees for key government services. including national identity (ID) cards and passports.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated on Tuesday, November 14 that the notice which also sought to impose higher charges on work permit, birth and death certificate applications was revoked to allow for public participation on the matter.

"It is notified for information of the general public that Kenya Gazette Notice No. 15239 of 2023, 15240 of 2023, 15241 of 2023 and 15242 of 2023 in the Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXV-No.239 dated November 7, 2023 published by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration relating to upward revision of charges, fees and levies for various services provided by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has been revoked to allow more public participation on the matter," the notice stated in part.

A person holding a national ID card. /FILE

"In lieu thereof, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration has published new intended charges, fees and levies for the same services to take effect on January 1, 2024. The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has been directed to conduct and complete public participation as soon as possible, but in any case, not later than December 10, 2023."

Following the withdrawal of the earlier Gazette Notice, the Interior CS has gazetted new intended charges for the same services to take effect on January 1, 2024.

The new notice however saw the government make minimal changes with most of the hiked charges such as application of passports, death and birth certificates being retained as previously published on November 7, 2023.

However, the only major change touched on the application for national IDs. Previously, the government had intended to increase the charges for first-time ID applications to Ksh1,000, but it has been reviewed downwards to Ksh300.

For those who lose their IDs, the fee has been revised downwards from the initial Ksh2,000 to Ksh1,000.

"On the particular issue of acquisition of National Identity Cards by previously not registered citizens, the Government shall defray the costs of the revised charges, fees and levies through a waiver for indigent Kenyans who demonstrate inability to pay," added the CS.

The intended revised charges, fees and levies, Kindiki added, are informed by the need for Kenya’s self-reliance in financing the National Budget, to wean the country from unsustainable debt that poses grave threats to our sovereignty and the dignity of future generations.

The CS noted that the new intended charges, fees and levies have been adjusted to accommodate views of the public already received following the publication of the revoked Gazette Notices.

Furthermore, Kindiki said the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has been directed to conduct and complete public participation not later than December 10, 2023.

The High Court had also issued the conservatory orders suspending the revoked notice after Dr. Magari Gikenyi, a private citizen moved to court to challenge the fees.

The conservatory orders were issued after the government, through Roseline Njogu, the Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, issued an apology over what she termed as a costly error regarding a Gazette Notice which sparked nationwide uproar over the increase of fees for key services.

The Gazette Notice shared with newsrooms had reported that, among others, fees for the issuance of permanent residences for children of Kenyan citizens born outside the country had increased to Ksh1 million.