Raila vows to fight down new ID charges, other enhanced levies

Azimio leader Raila Odinga yesterday opposed the new revised fees for national identity cards, declaring that all Kenyans should get the vital document free of charge.

Vowing to fight down the new ID charges and a string of other enhanced levies introduced by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the opposition chief said the government should not be imposing punitive fees on its citizens.

“They are now telling people to forcefully buy their right of being a Kenyan. We are saying every Kenyan must be issued with an ID card without paying anything,” Raila said.

He spoke yesterday at Westland Primary School in Nairobi during a forum with members of the clergy, convened by the area legislator Tim Wanyonyi.  

The former Prime Minister swore not to let President William Ruto’s administration get away with the new charges on crucial services.

Raila was reacting to the outrage expressed by Kenyans after the government announced through the Kenya Gazette that Kenyans seeking national IDs will now have to pay Sh1,000 for fresh registration and cough up Sh2,000 for a replacement.

Under Cap 107 of the laws of Kenya, registration of persons, it is mandatory for every Kenya to register so as to be issued with an ID upon attaining the age of 18.  Failure to register attracts a fine of Sh50,000 or a two-month imprisonment or both.

Last week, the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services introduced charges on some of its services including obtaining ID cards, passports and birth and death certificates among others.

The directive was, however, suspended by the High Court in a petition filed by surgeon Magare Gikenyi who argued that the government introduced the charges in a "capricious and arbitrary manner".

CS Kindiki made an about-turn on the directive, revoking the earlier notice dated November 7, 2023.

In the new gazette notice issued on Tuesday 14, the government made changes to charges on new ID applications while retaining those on passports, death and birth certificates.

Initially, the government had set the fees for first-time ID applications at Sh1,000 but has now reviewed the cost downward to Sh300.

The new charges for the services, if implemented, will take effect on January 1, next year, according to Kindiki.

The statement issued on Tuesday, Kindiki further directed the Immigration department to conduct and complete public participation not later than December 10, 2023.

At yesterday's forum, Raila responded to a section of the public’s outcry on his silence over cost of living. He said he would not want to disrupt the bipartisan talks.

Azimio executive council chairman Wycliffe Oparanya told off those asking Raila to come out and speak on their frustrations, saying it is time for them to learn from their mistakes.

Orange Democratic Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna promised to shoot down the bipartisan talks report if it will not include modalities of easing the high cost of living.