Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has apologized to Kenyans following a gazette notice that reported a Sh1 million fee increase for the processing of permanent residences for children of Kenyan citizens born outside the country.
In a statement, Njogu said the notice, released by the Interior Ministry on Wednesday reporting a permanent residence fee increase to Sh1 million and an issuance fee of Sh200,000, is inaccurate.
“I have engaged with Immigration PS Julius Bitok. He has assured me that the Permanent Residence fees for children of Kenyan citizens were entered in error,” Njogu stated.
“As per the Constitution, a child whose mother or father is a Kenyan Citizen is a citizen by birth. They do not need to apply for permanent residency,” She added.
State increases passport fees, introduces ID card fees. See new fees
The PS clarified that the outrageous amounts apply to children of foreigners seeking permanent residences and not Kenyans. She added that measures to rectify the misleading error have already been taken.
The increment of the fees caused an uproar, with a section of leaders and members of the public demanding answers on the punitive fees on key documents including passport, ID, work permit, birth and death certificate applications.
Replacement of ID was increased from Sh100 to Sh2,000 while persons applying first-time IDs will pay Sh1,000. In addition, a 34-page passport will now cost applicants Sh7,500, up from Sh4,500.
New birth certificate applications will cost Sh200 from Sh50, while application fees for death certificates have also quadrupled to Sh200.
