The government has increased the fee for the replacement of identity cards from Ksh100 to Ksh2,000.
In a gazette notice issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the government also announced an increase in the fee for persons acquiring an ID for the first time to Ksh1,000.
The government also introduced new hiked levies on obtaining birth certificates from Ksh50 to Ksh200.
In the same fashion, Kenyans seeking to change the details in their ID card will be forced to part ways with Ksh1,000 while those seeking identification reports will have to pay Ksh1,000 up from Ksh300.
Meanwhile, the government has also increased fees charged on obtaining civil servants’ cards from Ksh100 to Ksh1000 while those in need of staff badges will have to pay Ksh1000 from Ksh350.
The government has also revised charges on late registration of birth certificates.
Those making late registration will pay Ksh150 while late registration of death certificate will similarly cost Ksh500 from Ksh150.
Among the other revised charges include re-registration of birth certificate that will cost Ksh1000 up from Ksh90, while amendments of both birth and death certificates will cost Ksh1000 from Ksh30.
The new changes come barely a week after the Ministry of Interior kicked off the process of rolling out the Maisha Namba.
Speaking after hosting members of the Civil Society to a briefing session on digital ID on November 1, Immigration and Citizen Services PS Prof Julius Bitok noted that the pilot phase will target first-time applicants.
Also set to receive the new card with enhanced security features are applicants seeking replacements for defaced or lost cards.
“All Kenyans turning 18 years in whichever part of Kenya will be issued with a Maisha Card on a pilot basis. This way, we will establish whether there are any errors or issues before we do the penultimate launch," he stated.
According to the PS, 10,000 individuals apply for a new identification card every day while 5,000 apply for duplicates.
The pilot process is expected to help the State assess any errors likely to be found within the digital-based Maisha Namba before a penultimate rollout.
