Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has effected the new charges for government services, including replacing IDs, passports, and birth and death certificates.

Kenyans seeking to obtain or replace certificates will be required to pay the updated charges following the revised fees proposed on November 2023 via a Gazette Notice.

In a memo addressed to all section heads, county coordinators, national registry and sub-county registrars, Kindiki noted that the rollout followed the completion of a public participation process conducted between November 14, 2023, and December 5, 2023.

"You may recall that the effective date for implementing these charges was January 1, 2024. However, the said charges were to be subjected to public participation before taking place," Kindiki stated.

"The purpose of this circular is therefore to inform you that from March 1, 2024, the revised charges, fees and levies take effect and all our services will be charged accordingly."

Under the revised charges, individuals applying for an ID card will now be obligated to pay Ksh300, whereas previously, these services were provided free of charge. The replacement of an ID card will incur a fee of Ksh1,000, as opposed to the previous charge of Ksh500.

To obtain either a birth or death certificate, applicants will now be required to remit Ksh200, up from the initial fee of Ksh50. Late registration of births or deaths will now attract a fee of Ksh500, an increase from the previous charge of Ksh150.

Those seeking to apply for passport services will also have to bear with the new charges that have been hiked by 75 per cent. Kenyans will pay Ksh7,500 for an ordinary 34-page booklet while the ordinary 50-page booklet will cost Ksh9,500.

In contrast, the previous charge to acquire a 34-page booklet was Ksh4,500 and a 50-page document went for Ksh6,000.

The charges for an ordinary 66-page booklet increased from Ksh7,500 to Ksh12,500.

On the other hand, replacing lost passports will cost Ksh20,000, up from the previous fee of Ksh12,000. Those seeking replacement of a mutilated passport will be subject to a fee of Ksh20,000, compared to the initial charge of Ksh10,000. Additionally, obtaining an express passport will now cost Ksh30,000.

In the revised fee structure, regaining citizenship after renunciation will require a payment of Ksh50,000, a substantial increase from the previous fee of Ksh5,000. Similarly, renouncing citizenship or acquiring citizenship for a spouse from East African Community countries will also demand a fee of Ksh50,000.

A single entry visa will cost $100 (Ksh14,458) from the previous $50 (Ksh7,229) while a multiple entry visa will be charged $500 (Ksh72,290) as compared to the initial $100 (Ksh14,458). 

Those applying for permanent residence for children born outside Kenya will pay Ksh750,000 from the current Ksh500,000 while spouses to Kenyan citizens will part with Ksh150,000 from Ksh50,000.

The move is set to align with the government's aim to raise revenue collection to Ksh2.6 trillion in the current financial year 2023/24.