Members of Parliament have called on the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services to review and republish the newly proposed charges for services such as national identity cards and birth certificates.
The MPs expressed concerns about the high costs, emphasizing the need to make these essential services more affordable for citizens.
Samuel Chepkong’a, chairperson of the Delegated Legislation Committee, criticized the lack of justification for increased fees for applying for or replacing ID cards. He urged the department to lower the charges to encourage more Kenyans to access these services.
Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu also questioned the fairness of charging higher fees for correcting errors, which he noted could often result from departmental staff mistakes.
The proposed regulations under review, including the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2024, and the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2024, suggest a Sh300 fee for applying for a new ID card, previously free.
Replacing or updating an ID would cost Sh1,000, up from the current Sh100.
In response, the department justified the fee hikes as necessary adjustments due to inflation, but the lawmakers maintained their stance that the changes should prioritize accessibility and fairness for all Kenyans.
