Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has defended the government’s move to have a higher cost on select services, including replacing an identity card.
Speaking to K24 TV on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Orwoba said people do not fully appreciate what they get freely, since they are sure to get it again without a cost.
“If you are replacing an ID there should be a cost on it because anything you are given for free most people do not safeguard. They know they’ll go back and get it for free,” Orwoba said.
This comes days after the Department of Immigration and Citizen Services through the Ministry of Interior effected new charges on government services on March 1.
According to the changes announced by the department in a memo to Regional Coordinators from the Interior Ministry dated February 29, a fresh application for an ID will now cost Kenyans Ksh300, which was free.
Replacing an ID
This is in line with new levies for government services published on November 14, 2023, which stipulate that replacing a lost identity card will cost Kenyans Ksh1,000.
Acquiring a certificate of birth will cost Ksh200, up from Ksh50. The same charge goes for a death certificate. For a late birth or death registration, one will pay Ksh500 from the current Ksh150.
Re-registration of birth will cost Ksh1,000 up from Ksh90 while amendments of both birth and death certificates will cost Ksh1,000 up from Ksh130.
Kenyans will pay Ksh7,500 for an ordinary passport (34 pages), up from Ksh4,500 while a 50-page passport will cost Ksh9,500 up from Ksh6,000. A 66-page passport will cost Ksh12,500 up from Ksh7,500.
Replacing a lost or mutilated passport will cost Ksh20,000 from the previous Ksh12,000 and Ksh10,000 respectively. On the other hand, an express passport will cost Ksh30,000.
Regaining citizenship after renouncing it will cost Ksh50,000 from the previous Ksh5,000.
A permanent residence for Kenyan children born outside the country and in countries which do not allow dual citizenship will pay Ksh750,000, which was previously Ksh500,000. Foreign spouses to Kenya citizens will pay Ksh150,000 from Ksh50,000.
Work permit fees for foreigners have also been adjusted upwards.
A work permit for investors Class G will cost Ksh250,000 up from Ksh100,000 while a work permit for investors Class D will be Ksh500,000 up from Ksh200,000.
Foreigners will also have to pay Ksh30,000 work permit processing fees, up from Ksh10,000.
Opposition
The move has previously been opposed by both private citizens and lobby groups including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
In a statement on November 9, 2023, KHRC faulted the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, which falls under the Interior Ministry, for hiking charges on government services.
The advocacy agency said the move to increase charges on government services proved the Kenya Kwanza regime is in business.
KHRC additionally warned that the government could soon tax the untaxable, lamenting that there seems to be no end to heavy taxation in Kenya.
“The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services’ plan to increase charges and levies shows one thing: this regime is in business, not service. Soon, they will start taxing the untaxable. They have no limits to heavy taxation. Resist! #ResistHeavyTaxation,” KHRC stated.
Speaking in November last year, Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga vowed to oppose any fees the government proposes to impose on Kenyans seeking ID cards.
Raila faulted the government for proposing to raise the charges, saying the document should be given free of charge as proof of citizenship.
“We will fight on the ID issue. Every Kenyan should get an ID card, as it is the one that shows you are a Kenyan. So, someone wants you to buy it. We will demand that every Kenyan is given an ID card even if they do not have money,” Raila said in November 2023.
