The Kenyan government has confirmed that it is its intention to apply a series of increases to all permits, documents and services issued by the immigration office that will come into effect on 1 January 2024.

The increases, according to the government's intentions, will not only affect digital ID cards for Kenyan citizens and their passports (as well as a range of documents, such as birth, marriage and death certificates), but also foreign residents and tourists entering the country.
The Minister of the Interior, Kithure Kindiki, in a statement released to the media, confirmed the stance, explaining that.

"The current fees charged for issuing identity cards have not been reviewed for many years and no longer reflect the real cost of services. It is therefore necessary for the government to review them in order to find a balance between services rendered and production costs in line with current market rates,' the statement read in part.

What is certain is that the doubling of tourist visas, which the Minister of Tourism has spoken out against and is fighting against (from $50 to $100), will not help the sector, especially short holidays, while increases of up to 150% in work and long-term residence permits could discourage investments that are not for 'maximum systems' and residences for retirees or smart workers, which can also mean buying property, renting and employing local labour at multiple levels.

The Nairobi High Court had already blocked the measure after it was published in the official gazette on 6 November. But according to the Minister of Home Affairs, everything should eventually pass in January.