Egg on the face? Ministry apologises over Sh1m 'error' in new citizenship fees notice

Diaspora and Foreign Affairs PS Roseline Njogu. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu now says the Ministry erred in the Sh1,000,000 charges for children of Kenyan citizens born abroad.

In a post on X, Njogu clarified that the fees apply to children of foreigners seeking permanent residency in Kenya.

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior through a Gazette Notice had stated that a child born to Kenyan citizens abroad, with the intention to acquire Kenyan citizenship will be required to part with Sh1,000,000 million.

But, PS Njogu says that that was an error as a child born to a Kenyan mother or father acquires their citizenship by birth.

"I have engaged with Immigration PS Julius Bitok and he has assured me that the permanent residence fees for children of Kenyan citizens were entered in error. This fee applies to children of foreigners seeking permanent residency in the country. As I had explained, children of a Kenyan citizen acquire citizenship by birth," said Njogu.

According to the Constitution, a child whose mother or father is a Kenyan Citizen, is a citizen by birth. They do not need to apply for permanent residency.

They can acquire the normal citizenship documents like an Identification Card (ID) and passport by applying at the nearest Kenya Embassy or through the e-Citizen platform.

Other fees that have been revised include passport charges and ID replacement fees which went up from Sh100 to Sh2,000.

These charges got into effect from November 7, 2023.