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{
    "id": 1521144,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521144/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 25,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Khwisero, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Christopher Wangaya",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security regarding scrapping the application fees for issuance of identity cards. Every Kenyan is entitled to the issuance of a national identification card upon attainment of maturity at the age of 18. Possession of the ID card is especially critical in facilitating the Kenyan youth's access to basic services such as university and college funding, employment opportunities, recruitment to the disciplined forces, and enrolment for financial services such as M-Pesa and banking. Sadly, the Government’s requirement for payment of a mandatory application fee of Ksh300 is hindering many teenage first-time applicants from acquiring national identity cards. Clearly, at the age of 18 years, teenagers applying for identification cards do not have an income of their own to pay fees and meet other related costs, such as convenience fees charged by Huduma Centres. Additionally, teenagers who do not have parents or guardians to pay the application fees for them fail to apply for identification cards due to the cost implication. As a result, most young people are not only delayed from timely access to opportunities requiring identity cards but also the enjoyment of their inherent identity as citizens of Kenya. It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security on the following: 1. A report on the justification for the introduction of application fees of three hundred Kenya shillings for issuance of national identification cards to first- time teenage applicants who do not have an income; and 2. The immediate actions being taken to scrap the fees chargeable for first-time teenage applications to eliminate the prohibitive financial obligation hindering many eligible teens from obtaining the critical identification document. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}