Govt Apologizes For Error Made in Increase of ID, Passport Application Charges

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has issued a public apology following the release of a Gazette Notice which reported that fees for the processing of permanent residences for children of Kenyan citizens born outside the country had increased to Ksh.1 million.

The notice, which triggered a heated public debate, reported that fees for the processing of permanent residences for children of Kenyan citizens born outside Kenya had doubled to Ksh.200,000 while the fees for the issuance of permanent residences for the same children had increased to Ksh.1,000,000 from Ksh.500,000.

In a statement on social media platform X, Njogu clarified that the quoted amounts were erroneously keyed in while noting that she has since raised the issue with Immigration PS Julius Bitok who she says confirmed the same.

She added that the outrageous amounts apply to children of foreigners seeking permanent residences and not Kenyans.

“Further to my last tweet, 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,” said the PS.

“This fee applies to children of foreigners seeking PR. As I had explained, children of a citizen acquire citizenship by birth.”

The requirement would have been unconstitutional since Article 14 (1) of the Kenyan Constitution stipulates that “A person is a citizen by birth if on the day of the person’s birth, whether or not the person is born in Kenya, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen.”

The Foreign Affairs CS added that measures to rectify the misleading error have already been taken.

“Apologies for the mistake that has caused so much anxiety,” she said.