East African Legislative Assembly(EALA) member Winnie Odinga has clapped back at netizens pushing her dad ODM leader Raila Odinga to call for protests amid growing concerns about the rising cost of living.
The calls gained momentum on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, after the government released new charges for various services offered by the Interior Ministry as well as a proposal for a looming increase in fuel prices.
Winnie Odinga has however asked netizens to not drag her dad into their enduring misery.
“Si uambie babako aweke maandamano,” X user Steve wrote.
In her response, she said: “Si ulimtuma Bondo? Achana na babangu.”
Odinga called off nationwide protests after an agreement with the government to engage in the bipartisan talks that kick off in September.
Meanwhile, in a gazette notice on November 7, 2023, Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung’u granted his Interior counterpart Kithure Kindiki the authority for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services to revise charges and levies for various government services.
Among the services affected include; verification fees (IPRS), citizenship fees, permanent residence fees, registration of births and deaths fees, visa fees, passport fees, work permit fees and Identity Card (ID) fees.
Most of the fees charged for government services have been revised upwards by 25 per cent.
For instance, common services sought by Kenyans including acquiring a certificate of birth will cost Ksh200, up from Ksh50. The same charge goes for a death certificate.
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 seeking to replace their ID cards will pay Ksh2,000, up from Ksh100.
Fees for passport services have also been revised upwards significantly in the new proposal. Kenyans will pay Ksh7,500 for an ordinary passport (34 pages), up from Ksh4,500.
A 50-page passport will cost Ksh9,500 up from Ksh6,000 while a 66-page passport will cost Ksh12,500 up from Ksh7,500.
Work permit fees for foreigners have also been adjusted upwards.
A work permit for investors in 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.
