Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, has apologized publicly after it was revealed in a Gazette Notice that the processing fees for permanent residences for children of Kenyan citizens born abroad had increased to Ksh. 1 million.
Fees for processing permanent residences for children of Kenyan citizens born outside Kenya have doubled to Ksh. 200,000, according to a notice that sparked a contentious public debate. Meanwhile, fees for issuing permanent residences to the same children have increased to Ksh. 1,000,000 from Ksh. 500,000.
Njogu explained that the quoted amounts were incorrectly keyed in in a statement posted on the social media platform X. She also mentioned that she had since brought up the matter with Immigration PS Julius Bitok, who she claims verified the same.
She added that the outrageous amounts apply to children of foreigners seeking permanent residences and not Kenyans.
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"Further to my last tweet, I have engaged with Immigration PS Julius Bitok. He has assured me that the Permanent Residence fees for children of Kenyan citizens were entered in error," said the PS.
"This fee applies to children of foreigners seeking PR. As I had explained, children of a citizen acquire citizenship by birth."
The requirement would have been unconstitutional since Article 14 (1) of the Kenyan Constitution stipulates that "A person is a citizen by birth if on the day of the person's birth, whether or not the person is born in Kenya, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen."
The Foreign Affairs CS went on to say that steps had already been taken to correct the misleading error.
"Apologies for the mistake that has caused so much anxiety," she responded.
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