The Church and Clergy Association of Kenya (CCAK) has condemned the move by government to increase marriage registration fees among other charges for key citizen services.
The clergy association led by Bishop Hudson Ndeda while speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, November 14 criticized the state for the high cost of living and high taxes imposed on Kenyans.
While opposing the move, CCAK noted that increasing the cost of marriage certificate will limit several Kenyans from marrying, hence promoting immorality among the youth.
Further, Bishop Ndeda called on President William Ruto to publicly denounce Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) agenda in the country.
High Marriage Fees May Promote LGBTQ
According to the clergy, a majority of young people will avoid getting married in a Godly way, hence promoting LGBTQ.
“The move will discourage young people from getting married in a godly way and therefore at the end that can encourage LGBTQ, prostitution and other things,” said Ndeda.
Also Read: Kindiki Makes Changes on ID, Passport Marriage Application Charges
According to Bishop Ndeda, increasing marriage fees is double taxation since the church caters for other expenses before officiating any marriage.
“If the fees that is suggested will be charged on people doing a wedding that will be double taxation because churches buy marriage books at Ksh 25,000 from the government so we can register marriages,” said Ndeda.
Clergy Calls on President Ruto to Keep his Promises
Additionally, CCAK national chairman Hudson Ndeda pleaded with President William Ruto to rethink his campaign promises to Kenyans saying he promised people “a government for the hustler.”
Notably, the outcry comes just five days after the government announced new fees on government services.
According to a Gazette Notice, dated November 6, the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that marriage certificate fees have been increased ten times more.
Kenyan spouses processing marriage certificates will be charged Ksh 50,000 at the Attorney General’s (AG’s) office.
Notably the increase is from the current Ksh 5000.
Also Read: Amnesty Kenya Calls on the Church and Politicians to Respect LGBTIQ+ Groups
Government Services Fees Increased
Likewise other services whose charges have been increased include new ID registration as well as replacement, Death Certificate, Birth Certificate, and passports.
Similarly, individuals seeking replacement for IDs, will be charged twenty times more, meaning they will now pay Sh2,000, up from Sh100 they used to pay.
According to the notice, a 34 paged ordinary passport will from the date of publication of the changes be obtained at Ksh7,500 from Ksh4,500, while a 50 paged ordinary passport will be obtained at Ksh9,500 from a previous price of Ksh6,000.
Also, Kenyans will be forced to part ways with Ksh12,5000 to acquire a 66 paged passport, an increase from the previous Ksh7,500.
The cost of replacing a lost passport will according to the new regulations increase from Ksh12,000 to Ksh20,000 while the cost of replacing a mutilated passport will increase from ksh10,000 to Ksh20,000.
However, the High Court in November 9 issued orders suspending the new charges for National Identification Cards (IDs), passports and other immigration documents as gazetted by the Interior Ministry.
This came following a petition by Nakuru-based surgeon Magare Gikenyi.
“A conservatory order is hereby issued suspending Gazette Notices No. 15239-15249 dated November 6, 2023, and any other document purporting to give authority to increase or review the charges, fees and levies specified therein pending the hearing and determination of the application inter-partes,” the order stated.
