Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on Wednesday pledged to review the service fees imposed on Kenyan Identity Card applicants.
CS Mbadi who appeared before Senators on Wednesday morning clarified that he agrees with lawmakers that the government should not charge Kenyans seeking to obtain the critical document for the first time.
In his explanation, the finance minister stated that it was illogical for a person to be charged an extra fee by the government for them to be registered as a Kenyan citizen.
The CS promised to engage the relevant authorities to see to it that the fee is scrapped to relieve Kenyans off the burden.
A photo of Kenyan ID cards ready for collection at Huduma Center.
Photo
Immigration and Citizen Services
However, Mbadi in his proposal, maintained that the fee charged for replacing ID cards would not be scrapped.
“I am one of the people who are in this school of thought that you do not have to pay to be registered as a Kenyan,” the Finance CS stated.
“I don’t think it is wise to charge new applicants, maybe we should charge for replacements. I agree that this is a fee that needs to be reconsidered.”
According to Mbadi, it was not the first time he had proposed changes in the fees charged on ID cards. The CS claimed he first proposed the changes while he was a Member of Parliament.
CS Mbadi was forced to clarify the matter after a section of lawmakers led by Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda questioned the CS on why the government was charging Kenyans for the citizen service.
“The application fee is Ksh300, why don’t you bring them to zero shillings because we are all Kenyans?” the nominated Senator questioned the CS.
In November last year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki published a gazette notice detailing revised ID Card charges which took effect in January 2024.
In the revised fees, Kenyans seeking to acquire a new ID are required to pay Ksh300. The new rate was a downward revision from the Ksh1,000 initially proposed by the government. That was however shelved following uproar from Kenyans.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki speaking during the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Thursday, September 26. PHOTO/ Kithure Kindiki.
