Kenyans in the diaspora will now pay almost double the current Kenyan passport fees in a move which has outraged those living abroad.
The government has introduced new regulations classifying those living abroad into five broad categories with those living in the US and the Caribbean countries getting the biggest hit.
Many in the diaspora are up in arms suggesting that the move was a punishment Kenyans in the diaspora who were outraged by the dramatic deportation of NASA lawyer Miguna Miguna to Canada early this month.
The five categories are Americas and the Caribbean, United Kingdom, Africa, Australia and Asia and the European Union.
Kenyans living in the US and the Caribbean will pay Sh8,000 for a 32-page passport, Sh11,000 for a 48-page passport and Sh14,000 for a 64-page passport according to new regulations signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi.
The new fees are double the current cost of the passports which are Sh4,500, Sh6,000 and Sh7,500 for a 32 page, 48 page and 64 page respectively.
Diplomatic passports will cost those living in the US Sh17,000 up from Sh7,500 which is almost a Sh10,000 increase.
Renewal fees for passports have now increased from Sh10,000 to Sh20,000 while those in the US who would like to replace their lost passports will pay Sh21,000, up from Sh12,000.
Kenyans living in the UK will now pay Sh6,403 for a 32-page passport, Sh7,516 for a 48-page passport and 64-page passport will cost them Sh12,807.
Kenyans living in the EU will now pay Sh7,516 for a 32 page passport, Sh9,395 for a 48-page passport and Sh11,274 for a 64-page passport.
Kenyans living in Africa, Australia and Asia will pay Sh5,000 for a 32-page passport and Sh6,500 for a 48-page passport. A 64-page passport will cost them Sh8,000.
The governmemt said that theThe Matiang’i changes were as a result of the amendment of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 that were put in place by then Immigration Minister, the late Otieno Kajwang.
