Kenyans brace for tough times under Kenya Kwanza regime

President William Ruto’s administration has raised the cost of living by significantly raising taxes on almost everything, and now it appears to be increasing the cost of government services as well.

Since taking office in September 2023, the government has increased taxes on petrol, plus remittances in NSSF and NHIF. It has also introduced new taxes such as the housing levy.

Here are some of the standout services that Kenyans will now have to pay more for:

• Visiting game parks and national reserves: The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) announced in August 2023 that tourists entering national parks would have to pay Sh1,500 up from Sh500, with the new rates taking effect in January 2024.
• Acquiring and renewing passports and lost IDs: The cost of acquiring an identity card for the first time has increased to Sh1,000, and the cost of replacing a lost ID has increased to Sh2,000 up from Sh100.
• Marriage certificate: The cost of obtaining a marriage certificate has increased to Sh100,000, up from Sh30,000.
• University fees: University education is likely to be out of reach for thousands of students, as the government has removed the automatic subsidy. Students who miss the government scholarship and loans will now have to pay the entire amount.
• SGR fares: Kenya Railways announced in early November that it would be increasing train fare prices due to the rising cost of fuel in the country. Economy class fares on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will rise to Sh1,500 from Sh1,000, and first-class tickets will rise to Sh4,500 from Sh3,000.
• Parking fees in Nairobi: The Nairobi County government increased parking fees last week. Saloon car owners are now required to pay Sh300, motorists parking vans or pick-ups will have to pay Sh500, and parking a truck weighing more than five tonnes will cost Sh3,000. Non-digital taxis will now also have to pay a monthly fee of Sh3,000 to park in Zone I.

The government has justified these increases by saying that they are necessary to raise revenue and finance its development agenda. However, many Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising inflation and unemployment. The increased cost of government services will only make their lives more difficult.