MPs reject proposed hiked fees for birth, death certificates and ID cards

MPs during a recent sitting of the National Assembly. (Photo: National Assembly KE)

By Lucy Mumbi
Thursday, December 5, 2024

Committee Chair Samuel Chepkonga criticised the regulations, describing them as flawed and in need of comprehensive review.

Members of Parliament have rejected proposals to increase fees for birth and death certificates, citing concerns over accessibility and fairness.

The lawmakers, sitting in the Delegated Legislation Committee, also called for the revocation of the Registration of Persons (Amendment) rules, which anchor the new national identity card system, referred to as Maisha Namba.

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Committee Chair Samuel Chepkonga criticised the regulations, describing them as flawed and needing comprehensive review.

"On a number of issues that we have raised which are very substantive, a corrigenda may not be sufficient. You may need to republish and revoke what you have already provided, because if we consider it in the manner it is, it might be very difficult to achieve the intended purpose," Chepkonga said during a meeting with Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Wednesday.

The proposed rules outline increased fees for identity card services, including Sh1,000 for replacing or duplicating an ID card or altering its details.

Previously, ID applications were free under the former administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Bitok defended the regulations, insisting they were developed through extensive public participation.

"We went to the field and we did 820 meetings of public participation on this Maisha Namba. We have the report on what Kenyans said. This is so important for our national security. This ID is secure and tamper-proof, it’s a very secure card," he told the committee.

However, MPs challenged the inclusion of Maisha Namba in the rules, questioning its clarity. “Maisha card is a very good name; it actually sounds very Kenyan, but where is it in the regulations?” Chepkonga posed.

Additionally, the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) rules propose fees of Sh1,000 for registration, re-registration, or corrections in birth and death entries.

Previously, these services were free. Other charges include Sh500 for registration of a birth or death more than six months after the event and Sh200 for certificates. An authentication fee of Sh500 is also proposed for individuals or agencies seeking verification of a certificate seal.

Bitok argued that the increased fees were necessary to curb fraud and that inflation had risen.

"We are charging Sh1,000 for correction of errors; this is because there are a lot of attempts to fraudulently change documents. It's also a national security issue to avoid someone trying to manipulate the system to change their particulars," he explained.

Despite the defence, MPs maintained their stance, rejecting the proposed fee increments and urging the Ministry of Interior to re-evaluate the regulations.