MPs to Revoke Costly ID and Birth Document Regulations.
Members of Parliament plan to annul new regulations that significantly increase the cost of obtaining and replacing Identity Cards, as well as registering births and deaths. Lawmakers argue that these regulations lacked public participation and are riddled with errors.
Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkong’a, chair of the National Assembly’s Delegated Legislation Committee, expressed the committee’s concerns to Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok during a Wednesday meeting.
Committee members deemed the regulations punitive and difficult to enforce in their current form.
Chepkong’a stated that the Maisha Namba, a 14-digit Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) the government intends to introduce, was not included in the regulations.
He urged PS Bitok to republish the rules, noting that they could not achieve their intended purpose without substantial revisions.
The rules were introduced by former Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki under the Statutory Instruments Act, sparking public outcry.
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Chepkong’a highlighted errors in the regulations and insisted that a corrigendum would not suffice, emphasizing that republishing the rules was necessary.
Details of Maisha Namba and Proposed Fees
Maisha Namba is envisioned as a lifelong legal identification system consolidating details such as ID numbers, Kenya Revenue Authority PINs, and birth certificates.
However, the Registration of Persons (Amendment) rules set fees of Sh300 for new IDs, a reversal of the previous administration’s policy that waived these charges.
Other charges include Sh1,000 for duplicating or altering an ID and Sh500 for late registration of births or deaths. Additional fees range from Sh200 for birth or death certificates to $100 for authenticating certificates requested by foreign missions. Previously, many of these services were free or cheaper.
PS Bitok defended the proposed fees, stating they are necessary to curb fraud and align with national security needs, as the last adjustments were made 36 years ago. He argued that updating records accurately required increased fees.
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However, several MPs, including Samburu County Woman Rep Lenguris Pauline and Bureti MP Komingoi Kirui, opposed the hikes, citing the heavy tax burden already borne by Kenyans.
Lenguris called for a gradual approach to fee increases, while Komingoi criticized the justification for the changes, citing his personal experience with errors in ID registration.
Mixed Reactions Among Lawmakers
Despite the widespread opposition, Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo supported the fee increases, provided they improve service delivery. He emphasized the importance of timely issuance of birth certificates for processes like government capitation for public schools.
While debates continue, Chepkong’a warned that the proposed regulations in their current state might face rejection if not revised to reflect public concerns and administrative practicality.
MPs to Revoke Costly ID and Birth Document Regulations.
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