The High Court has suspended the Gazette Notice that increased fees charged on Kenyans seeking various registration services.
Aggrieved by the new charges slapped on the services, a citizen went to court to challenge the notice on Thursday, November 9.
Consequently, Justice Lawrence Mugambi of the High Court suspended the changes pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“A conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending Gazette Notices No. 15239-15242 dated 6th November 2023 and/or any other document purporting to give authority to increase or review the charges/fees/levies specified therein pending the hearing and determination of this Application inter-partes,” the judge ruled.
Further, the judge directed the applicant to serve the respondents including Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndungu and his Interior counterpart Kithure Kindiki.
Subsequently, the respondents will be required to file their responses within seven days after receiving the petition. The notice issued as a special issue had sparked outrage among Kenyans who complained about the new charges.
Among services affected in the notice include ID application, passports, and ID replacement.
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ID applications slapped with new charges
First time ID applicants, for instance, would be required to part with Ksh 2,000 for the application process, up from the current Ksh 100.
Additionally, charges for passport applications were set to rise significantly should the changes take effect as announced.
Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa was among Kenyans who voiced their reservations.
In a statement, Barasa criticized the state for imposing the changes on Kenyans at a time most of them were still grappling with rising cost of commodities.
Also Read: Kindiki Makes Changes on ID, Passport & Marriage Application Charges
“This is retrogressive to say the least, people get dishonest in presence of power and Money,” Barasa stated on Wednesday.
“These characters seem power drunk, eating taxes with a big spoon, wearing the most expensive designer shoes and vomiting remnants on Kenyans who walk bare feet! things are taking a wrong trajectory.”
However, Principal Secretary in the Department of Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu clarified the issue of Kenyans in diaspora being required to pay Ksh1 million for their children to secure Kenya’s citizenship.
In a subsequent statement, Njogu stated that the fee would only apply to non-Kenyan citizens seeking permanent residence for their children.
