Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) are voicing strong opposition to the newly proposed fees for national identity cards and birth certificates, urging the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services to lower the charges. The lawmakers argue that the increase would place an unnecessary financial burden on citizens already grappling with tough economic times.
Speaking during a meeting to review the proposed regulations under the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2024, and the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2024, MPs criticized the department for introducing excessive charges without sufficient justification.
Fee Adjustments Spark Debate
Under the proposed regulations, citizens applying for a new ID card would be charged KSh 300, a service that was previously free. Those seeking to replace lost IDs or update their details face a steep hike, with fees jumping from KSh 100 to KSh 1,000. Similarly, the cost of re-registration of births would rise from KSh 100 to KSh 1,000, prompting significant backlash.
The Delegated Legislation Committee Chairperson, Samuel Chepkong’a, called for a revision of the charges to make them affordable. “There is no proper justification for increasing the fees for applying for new identity cards or for replacing the document. The department should lower the fees to attract more Kenyans to apply,” he said.
Other MPs echoed Chepkong’a’s sentiments, highlighting the disproportionate burden the charges place on ordinary citizens. Robert Gichimu, MP for Gichugu, criticized the department for penalizing citizens for correcting errors on official documents. “Why should someone correcting an error in their document be forced to pay more than three times what a new applicant is paying? The mistake could have been made by staff, and citizens should not be penalized for it,” he remarked.
Economic Realities Take Center Stage
The timing of the proposed fee increase has drawn sharp criticism, with MPs pointing out the ongoing economic hardships facing Kenyans. Pauline Lenguris, MP for Samburu, warned that raising fees for essential government services could further alienate citizens. “We should be careful not to hurt the ordinary citizen,” she cautioned.
Similarly, Kibet Komingoi, MP for Bureti, questioned the rationale behind the high fees, particularly in light of the government’s push for digitization. “The government has declared it is going digital, so why are the fees still high?” he queried.
Government Defends Fee Increases
Despite the criticism, government officials defended the proposed fee adjustments, citing inflation and rising operational costs. Principal Secretary Julius Bitok explained that the fees had not been reviewed in 36 years and that inflation had increased tenfold during this period. “The fees are being revised after 36 years to take care of inflation because it has grown 10 times more,” he said, adding that the cost of raw materials used in the issuance of these documents had also gone up.
However, Chepkong’a suggested a compromise, proposing that the re-registration of birth fees be capped at KSh 500 instead of KSh 1,000. This, he argued, would strike a balance between addressing inflation and making the service accessible to all citizens.
Way Forward
The MPs have called for further review of the proposed regulations, emphasizing the need to consider the economic realities of Kenyans. The ongoing dialogue between lawmakers and the department highlights the broader issue of balancing government revenue generation with citizen welfare.
As the debate continues, citizens await a final decision that will determine whether the cost of acquiring these crucial documents will remain affordable or become a strain on household budgets. The outcome will reflect the government’s commitment to addressing public concerns and fostering inclusivity in access to essential services.
