The Interior Ministry has revealed two reasons why the State increased the cost of applying for and duplicating an identification card (ID) tenfold.
In a statement, the Kithure Kindiki-led Ministry explained that it was high time the fees were raised to match the cost of raw materials used to manufacture the documents.
The Ministry further noted that the new raw materials are superior to those used currently, pushing the application charges to between Ksh750 and Ksh1,000.
In the proposal, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services indicated that it intends to roll out the new fees on January 1, 2024.
"The fees that are currently charged for the issuance of ID cards have not been reviewed for many years and are no longer reflective of the real cost of the services. There is therefore a need for the Government to review them to strike a balance between services rendered and the cost of production in line with the current market rates," read the statement in part.
"The 3rd Generation ID card will have upgraded features to comply with international standards and enhanced security requirements. The new card will be made of advanced material which is more expensive to procure. Advanced security features in the 3rd generation card have also raised the cost of production."
On the list of services, fees for both the birth and death certificates will be increased from Ksh50 to Ksh200 while replacing a lost ID card will cost Ksh1,000.
The new features that will be embedded in the new documents are also expected to prevent the emergence of fake documents.
"The quality of materials used in the production of the new certificates is superior to what was being previously used. This takes into account added security features intended to safeguard the integrity of the documents by making it difficult to forge or make fake documents," added the statement.
"The fee levied on late applications for birth and death certification will encourage prompt registration on the events. This will also support the collection and tabulation of accurate and relevant data."
In mid-November, the Ministry reduced its proposed fee for ID application from Ksh2,000 to Ksh1,000 after immense backlash from the public.
Kenyans, however, will pay Ksh7,500 for an ordinary 34-page passport, while the ordinary 50-page document will go for Ksh9,500.
The ordinary 66-page travel document will be acquired at Ksh12,500.
