The recent decision by the Ministry of Interior to raise the fees for birth and death certificates in Kenya has sparked mixed reactions. State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Permanent Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok addressed the matter, explaining that the increased fees from Sh50 to Sh200 were driven by the rate of inflation and rising operational costs.
The new fee structure, which took effect in March 2024, marks a significant hike from the previous rate of Sh50. The decision to adjust the cost for issuing these vital documents has been linked to several factors, including inflation and the increasing cost of materials needed to process these certificates.
PS Bitok emphasized that the last fee review occurred 36 years ago. “The amount that affects the majority of people is that one of Sh200. We increased it from Sh50 to Sh200, but the last time it was done was 36 years ago,” he said during a PSs meeting at the Bomas of Kenya. The rise in costs over the decades, he noted, had made the previous fee inadequate to cover the current expenses of the issuance process. According to Bitok, the cost of materials, inflation, and the evolving socio-economic environment necessitated the increase.
In explaining the decision, Bitok further pointed out that the times have changed since the last fee review in 1988. “We proposed to increase to Sh200 because of the cost of materials, inflation, and the times have changed. Thirty-five years is a long time,” he added, stressing that the increase was a response to current realities. The new fees apply to all Kenyans seeking birth and death certificates, marking a shift in the way vital records are managed.
The fee increase follows a broader revision of fees and charges by the Ministry of Interior in 2024, which also saw changes to other services under the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services. The revisions were part of a comprehensive effort to modernize the fee structure, ensuring that the department’s services are financially sustainable while remaining accessible to the public.
In addition to the Sh200 fee for standard birth and death certificates, other fees were also adjusted. The cost for late registration of a birth certificate was increased from Sh150 to Sh500, while the same charge applies to late death registration. The cost for re-registration of births has risen from Sh90 to Sh1,000, while fees for registering births at Kenyan foreign missions have been raised from $50 (Sh7,225) to $150 (Sh21,675).
Changes to the fees for amendments to both birth and death certificates were also significant, with the charge now set at Sh1,000, up from Sh130. Additionally, the fees for certificates for persons presumed dead have increased from Sh150 to Sh1,500. The Ministry has also introduced new charges for certificate verification. Government agencies are now required to pay Sh500 for verification, while private agencies will pay Sh2,000 for similar services.
A new charge of $100 (Sh14,450) has been introduced for certificate verification for private foreign agencies, while the fees for verification by private Kenyan agencies have been set at $1,000 (Sh144,500). This shift reflects the growing need for the government to ensure that its services remain viable amid inflationary pressures and rising operational costs.
Despite concerns over the increased charges, PS Bitok assured the public that the government had completed the necessary public participation process before implementing the fee changes. The consultation period, held from November 14 to December 5, 2023, helped gather input from citizens on the proposed changes, culminating in the publication of the new fees in a gazette notice issued on November 14, 2023.
While the increase in fees is viewed by some as a burden on the public, particularly for low-income families, the government argues that the adjustment is essential for maintaining the sustainability of vital services. As inflation continues to impact the cost of living, the Ministry of Interior believes that these fee hikes are necessary to ensure the continued provision of essential services like birth and death certificate issuance.
This move reflects broader efforts by the Kenyan government to adjust its service fees to reflect the changing economic landscape, though it remains to be seen how the public will respond to these new charges in the long term.
