Kenyans Abroad React to Gov't Move to Hike Passport Fees for Diaspora
The decision by the government to increase passport fees for the Diaspora has angered Kenyans living abroad.
In an amendment to the Citizenship and Immigration Regulations by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i on January 18th, Kenyans in abroad will now part with nearly twice the amount paid by those in the country for the crucial travel documents.
Kenyans in the United States and Canada, who have been hit hard by the new pay structure, expressed their anger towards CS Mating'i and the the Jubilee administration, questioning the motive behind the move.
“This is a clear move by a corrupt government that has run out of money and ideas on how to create wealth to improve the welfare of Kenyans,” said Anthony Muhula, a Kenyan resident of Montreal, Canada.
He added: “Instead, (it) is now frantically looking for ways to fill the hole in the government coffers they raided to finance the campaigns. Kenyan abroad should resist this exploitation!”
Lawyer Henry Ongeri termed the move as a violation of rights of Kenyans in the abroad, adding that the government is treating the lot as second-class citizens.
“Severely outraged by this latest ‘decree’ from the Kenya government. One would have thought that the unending sore of these Kenyans being denied their right to vote was vile enough,” Henry K. Ongeri posted on Facebook.
“Apparently, it has also become forgivable to just see them as endless cash cows whose dollars and Euros ooze from their very beings.”
“This is not about the amount, many Kenyans in the diaspora can manage to pay the sum, but it is the principle that galls us. Due process and equal treatment before the law, what animals are those, they ask? I am livid and hope that I am not alone,” he added.
In the new pay structure, Kenyans in the US will pay Sh21,000, up from Sh12,000 to replace their passports. For those living in the United Kingdom, a 32-page passport will cost Sh6,403, Sh7,516 for a 48-page and Sh12,807 for a 64-page.
Kenyans in the European Union nations will pay Sh7,516, Sh9,395 and Sh11,274 for a 32,48 and 64-page passport. Those in Africa, Asia and Australia will pay Sh5,000, Sh6,500 and Sh8,000 for a 32, 48 and 64 page passport respectively.
"Kenya passport is uniform no matter where you live it is the same. Matiang'i usituletee ukora. It cost the same amount to make it. We pay the shipping cost out of our pockets," another Kenyan said.
Comments (8)
Bring the Ngilu arson case.I want to read how the Gikuyu corruption backers are going to support mad peole like Kariuki who are in a mission to make Kenya a desert.
The Kenyan Embassy in Washington, D.C. is a joke! It is easier to fly all the way to Kenya and take care of your businesses instead of calling them.
Uhuru and Ruto, don't you know and realize that for those of us who have lived in the US are used and accustomed to "efficiency without bribery!" Why do you hire very inefficient and incompetent people and bring them to the states to do nothing and yet get paid by the hard working
"helpless and abused" people of Kenya????????????
The New York Consulate is a joke too. They have the Kenyan mentality of inefficiency and lack of urgency. These people are in the most technologically advanced places yet they provide mediocre services.
The thieving govt at it again - shame on them . Uhuru Kenyatta and co , we didn't elect you to go around stealing from us - shame shame shame and I hope you read Mwakilishi, don't think because we supported you and opposition is busy swearing themselves instead of policing you we are going to let you slip this by!
Kwani passport ya diaspora itakuwa na flavor ya strawberry,,Vanilla ama chocolate what will make it different from others if I can be made to understand shall we get special clearance upon arriving JKIA ama you intend to create first,,second and third class passports or should I say citizenship. look for a better way of generating additional dime mazee
I will never waist my time with all this foolishness that this government is trying to do to us. This is stupid.
One would have expected for them to work in improving services to the diaspora. Some of these so called diplomats are undiplomatic, inefficient, uneconomical, misinformed, unconversant, unfamiliar, unexplored and there know they know it but just sit there to warm their seats and feel important.
I think fake Joshua a.k.a murderer and inciter should be named Kenya's envoy to the USA with the watermelon as Commercial Attache',Mudavadi as Immigration Attache' and Wetangui sent to head a new Embassy in Greenland where there are no assets to sell like he did in Tokyo,Japan.