Government increases registration fees for birth, death certificates by 300 per cent
By Lucy Mumbi |
The revised fees come as part of a broader effort by the government to increase charges across various immigration and civil registration services.
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has announced an increase in the registration fees for birth and death certificates, citing inflation as the primary reason.
He argued that the fees, which have remained unchanged for 36 years, will rise from Sh50 to Sh200.
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Bitok, who appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Delegated Legislation to discuss the revised fees, explained that the last fee adjustment was made in 1988.
"From 1988 up to now is 36 years. And clearly, inflation is more than 10 times. The principal amount here, which affects the majority of the people, is one for Sh200. We increased the fees from Sh50 to Sh200 because of the cost of materials and inflation. The times have changed because 36 years is a long time," he told Members of Parliament.
The new fee structure also includes a substantial increase in other related charges. Late registration for birth and death certificates will now incur a fee of Sh500, up from the previous Sh150.
Additionally, replacing a lost birth certificate will cost Sh1,000, a significant jump from the previous fee of Sh90. Errors in documents, such as missing letters or typos, will also incur a charge of Sh1,000, up from Sh130.
For Kenyans living abroad, the new fees are even higher. Diaspora residents will now be required to pay Sh19,000 (approximately USD150) for the same services, with an additional Sh1,000 for registering a birth or death that occurs outside Kenya.
The revised fees come as part of a broader effort by the government to increase charges across various immigration and civil registration services.
Earlier this year, the government increased passport and visa fees, with the cost of an ordinary 66-page passport rising from Sh7,500 to Sh12,000, and the cost of replacing a lost passport increasing from Sh12,000 to Sh20,000.
In addition to these changes, the government has also raised the cost of authenticating the seal of the principal registrar to Sh500, with the service costing Sh12,950 (USD100) for foreign missions in Kenya.
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