No Relief for Kenyans as Interior Ministry Refuses to Lower Birth Certificate Charges

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has rejected calls to lower birth certificate application fees, telling Parliament that the revised Ksh200 charge reflects current economic realities and the cost of issuing secure documents.

Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang defended the fourfold price hike in a statement presented to the National Assembly by Gabriel Tongoyo, chairperson of the Administration and Internal Security Committee.

Addressing concerns raised by lawmakers over the financial burden on citizens, Kipsang explained that the former Ksh50 fee had remained unchanged since 1998. He stated that cumulative inflation over the past two decades meant the new Ksh200 fee aligns with the purchasing power of Ksh50 back then.

"The fees were last reviewed in 1998, over 20 years ago. Considering the inflationary trend from the 80s and the monetary value vs. the former charges, the revised charges are equivalent to or within the price range of the charges back then," Kipsang said in the statement.

The government also attributed the higher rates to the introduction of enhanced security features on vital civil registration documents, which raised production expenses for the ministry.

"Due to increase need for a security of a document issed by the internal ministry, in relation to these services, there has been the communsarte increase in the quality of materials used and therefore the cost of these materials," Kipsang stated.

To further justify the decision, the ministry presented regional price comparisons. According to government figures, acquiring a birth certificate costs the equivalent of Ksh320 in Tanzania and Ksh180 in Uganda, placing Kenya’s Ksh200 rate within the regional average. In Zambia, replacement fees range between Ksh1,100 and Ksh1,600.

The state adjusted the charges upward in November 2024, ending the long-standing Ksh50 fee structure. The overhaul also affected related civil registration services across the country.

Under the revised framework, late birth registration now costs Ksh500, up from Ksh350. Citizens seeking to replace a lost birth certificate pay Ksh1,000, compared to the previous charge of Ksh90. Making formal amendments to an existing birth document now attracts a fee of Ksh1,000, up from Ksh130.

Despite public pressure and parliamentary scrutiny urging the state to revert to lower prices, the ministry confirmed that the current rates will stay.

"Currently, there are no steps taken to restore charges to the previous rates. The upward revision of fees was based on facts articulated above," Kipsang added.