The High Court has suspended a controversial gazette notice that increased charges on a number of government services.
Aggrieved by the new charges slapped on the services, a petitioner, Dr. Margaret Gikenyi today went to court to challenge the notice.
Gikenyi argued that there was no public participation and there was no formula for the increase.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi suspended the changes pending the hearing and determination set for November 29, 2023.
“A conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending Gazette Notices No. 15239- 15242 dated 6th November 2023 and/or any other document purporting to give authority to increase or review the charges/fees/levies specified therein pending the hearing and determination of this Application inter-parte.” The ruling read in part.
Respondents, Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u, and his Interior and National Administration Counterpart Kithure Kindiki are required to serve their response within seven days after being served with the petition by the applicant.
The gazette notice sparked an outrage among Kenyans and a section of leaders including Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.
On his X handle, Barasa stated that the decision outlined in the notice is an increase in financial burden to Kenyans.
He urged the government to reconsider the stance as Kenyans are already suffering.
According to the legislator, there is a disconnect between those in power and Kenyans describing them as ‘Power drunk’.
“This is retrogressive, to say the least, people get dishonest in the presence of power and Money. These characters seem power drunk, eating taxes with a big spoon, wearing the most expensive designer shoes, and vomiting remnants on Kenyans who walk bare feet.” Barasa stated.
The revised charges indicated that the ordinary passport (34 pages) will cost Sh7,500 from Sh4,500.
A diplomatic passport of 50 pages will now cost Sh15,000 from the previous Sh7,500.
Kenyans seeking to replace a valid mutilated passport will now inquire a cost of 20,000 from the previous Sh10, 000.
Those replacing their lost passport will also pay Sh20,000 which previously being charged at Sh10, 000.
Notably, Kenyans were previously paying sh.100 to apply for duplicate Identification cards and no charges for registration of a new ID but now they will need to pay Sh1,000 to change the details of an ID and Sh1,000 to make an identification report from the previous Sh1,000.
