Kenyan High Court Blocks Controversial ID Card Fees Amid Public Outcry

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The Kenyan High Court has intervened to block the imposition of newly introduced fees for national identity cards, responding to a petition filed by surgeon Magare Gikenyi. The petitioner argued that the government’s implementation of charges in a sudden and arbitrary manner rendered ID cards unaffordable for many citizens.

Without warning, the previously free ID cards are now subject to a fee of 1,000 Kenyan shillings ($6; £5). Furthermore, the cost of replacing ID cards surged 20-fold to 2,000 shillings. The move prompted widespread public outcry, particularly against the backdrop of a soaring cost-of-living crisis in Kenya.

Citizens, already grappling with increased charges for various government services, voiced concerns about the accessibility of essential documents for lower-income individuals. The fee adjustments extended to other government-issued documents, including passports, marriage certificates, work and residence permits, as well as birth and death certificates. Charges for obtaining or replacing passports increased by more than 50%, and fees for birth and death certificates saw a more than fourfold rise, reaching 200 shillings.

The abrupt and substantial fee increases have raised fears of creating barriers for poorer Kenyans to access essential government services and participate in processes requiring official documents. The move comes in the wake of protests earlier this year against government taxation and price hikes, leading to nationwide demonstrations and at least 24 deaths.

While some government officials disputed the price hikes, acknowledging errors in certain fee adjustments, President Ruto defended the government’s choices in his recent state of the nation address. He characterized the decisions as “not easy but necessary” to address what he deemed an unsustainable debt burden and to save Kenya. The court’s intervention marks a significant development in addressing public concerns and ensuring access to crucial government services.

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