JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed the country’s Inspector-General of Police Gen. Majak Akec Balok in a surprise move that comes amidst rumors of a coup attempt.

The president in his decree read out on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Tuesday night did not cite any official reason for the decision.

However, it comes just days after reports of unrest within the presidential guards, also known as Tiger Battalion, and the national security service (NSS), with sources claiming that around 27 officers from both security agencies were arrested.

Gen. Balok was appointed to the position in February 2018, having previously served as the director-general of nationality, passport, and immigration.

President Kiir has also appointed Lt. Gen. Atem Marol Biar as the new Inspector-General of Police. The new police chief was previously the Director General of the interior ministry’s Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality Passports, and Immigration.

The dismissal of Gen. Balok and the appointment of Gen. Biar are the latest in a series of changes to South Sudan’s security sector.

These changes come as the country continues to grapple with political instability and violence, and as rumors of a coup attempt continue to swirl. - Sudans Post

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration has revoked a gazette notice that recently announced an increase in charges for key government services after widespread public outcry.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said the notice that sought to impose higher charges on the application for birth certificates, identity cards (IDs) and passports had been revoked to allow for more public participation.

"It is notified for information of the general public that Kenya Gazette Notice No. 15239 of 2023, 15240 of 2023, 15241 of 2023 and 15242 of 2023 in the Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXV-No.239 dated November 7, 2023 published by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior relating to upward revision of charges, fees and levies for various services provided by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has been revoked to allow more public participation on the matter," Kindiki stated.

The CS also gazetted proposed charges for the same services set to take effect on January 1, 2024.

While most of the proposed charges remain the same, the CS announced that plans to introduce a Ksh1,000 fee for first-time ID applications had been reviewed following widespread uproar from members of the public. In the new proposal, Kenyans will now pay Ksh300 to acquire IDs. The service was previously offered at no cost.

Kindiki further noted that the government would meet the costs of Kenyans who demonstrate inability to raise the proposed fees.

"On the particular issue of acquisition of National Identity Cards by previously not registered citizens, the Government shall defray the costs of the revised charges, fees and levies through a waiver for indigent Kenyans who demonstrate inability to pay," the CS stated.

In the new proposal, Kenyans seeking to replace their lost IDs will part with Ksh1,000 and not Ksh2,000 indicated in the revoked notice.

The intended revised charges, fees and levies, Kindiki said, were informed by the need for Kenya’s self-reliance in financing the national budget, "to wean the country from unsustainable debt that poses grave threats to our sovereignty and the dignity of future generations." 

"The new intended charges, fees and levies have been adjusted to accommodate views of the public already received following the publication of the revoked Gazette Notices," he added.

Consequently, the CS directed the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services to conduct and complete public participation not later than December 10, 2023.

Passports

The proposed charges on passports remain the same as contained in the revoked gazette notice.

Kenyans will pay Ksh7,500 for an ordinary passport (34 pages), up from Ksh4,500.

A 50-page passport will cost Ksh9,500 up from Ksh6,000 while a 66-page passport will cost Ksh12,500 up from Ksh7,500.

Work permit fees for foreigners also remain the same.

A work permit for investors Class G will cost Ksh250,000 up from Ksh100,000 while a work permit for investors Class D will be Ksh500,000 up from Ksh200,000.

Foreigners will also have to pay Ksh30,000 work permit processing fees, up from Ksh10,000.

New birth certificate applications will cost Ksh200 from Ksh50. Application fees for death certificates have also quadrupled to Ksh200 as announced in the previous gazette notice while amendment fees for both birth and death certificates have increased by Ksh870 to Ksh1,000.  

The High Court had last week suspended the revoked notice pending the hearing and determination of a case lodged by a Nakuru Doctor Magari Gikenyi challenging the legality of the newly imposed fees. By Wycliffe Nyamasege, K24 Digital