The government has announced several changes to foreigner permits aimed at strengthening regulations on work permits.
The move is aimed at promoting national interests through enhanced digital jobs, smooth regional integration, fairness and increased foreign exchange for the government.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Interior CS Musalia Mudavadi said the proposals will ensure Kenya remains an attractive international and financial hub.
Mudavadi said that parts of the amendments have been made to allow for the introduction of a new class of permit Class 'P'.
Class ‘P’ will be issued to staff of the United Nations, Diplomatic Missions, Inter-Governmental Organizations like the Bretton Wood Institutions and International Non-Governmental Organizations accredited to or based in neighbouring hardship countries to enable them and their families to reside in Kenya.
The CS said that the new permit follows consistent requests from the United Nations office in Nairobi directly and through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for a status of UN staff working in neighbouring countries that are not classified as family stations in the region.
“The practice has been that such people maintain a residence in Nairobi where they, together with family, stay. They then go to their stations for short periods and come back to Nairobi to meet their families,” he said.
Mudavadi added that Kenya's main attraction for the diplomatic staff is due to security, peace and stability.
He further added that the existence of good international schools and hospitals, ease of foreign travels, decent accommodation houses, world-class recreation facilities, the existence of a large International Community and stable internet in Nairobi attract foreigners.
“Acknowledging that UN staff are highly paid, their stay in the country is of benefit considering the money they use to pay rent for residences, school, and fees for children. Many of them keep a car and at least a driver and domestic staff. The stay of such persons is also in line with Kenya's goal of Nairobi being a UN and Multilateral hub,” he added.
The CS said that those eligible for the new Permit (P) will pay a lower fee but to be charged in United States of America dollars.
He said that the workers are paid in foreign currency and that is an opportunity for the government to earn foreign currency from them.
On October 1, 2024, the government gazetted a new Class 'N' - for the Digital Nomad.
He said the permit class was informed by the rise in young professionals working remotely for overseas companies known as Digital nomads but have chosen Kenya as their place of residence.
The permit caters to digital nomads in ICT Professionals, project managers, editors, graphic designers, online teachers/tutors, virtual assistants, programmers, app. developers, customer service representatives, bloggers, video editors, software developers, writers, marketers, consultants, and freelance workers.
Mudavadi said the class of permit is issued to a person whose annual income is USD 24,000 (Sh3,102,240) down from USD 55,000 (Sh7,109,300) and is proposed fee is USD1000 (Sh129,260) per year.
As part of the changes, the amendment to the existing classes includes one on Class (I) where the permit has been amended to exclude persons working for approved charitable organizations who have been moved to class 'Q'.
The permit was initially issued to a person who is a member of an institution registered under the society's Act, who is engaged as a missionary, and whose activities are directly involved in preaching and or the conduct of religious worship and rituals.
According to Mudavadi, the church has been vocal in seeking a reversal of the decision to raise fees from Sh5,000 to Sh50,000 per year.
Mudavadi said they insisted that their missionary priests, brothers, and sisters are not salaried and offer services to societies' most needy and in some of the remote areas.
He said the amendment of Class (I) aims to reduce the number of persons falling under the class and reduce the fee charged from Sh50,000 to Sh20,000.
The CS added that the number of beneficiaries will also reduce as the fee charged is reduced.
The other previous members of Class (I) are moved to Class 'Q' where they will pay an increased fee of Sh100,000 per year.
The government has also introduced Class 'Q' which will be issued to a person who is a member of an institution registered under the society's Act whose duties are not directly related to the conduct of religious worship and rituals.
Members of a company limited by guarantee, and Members of a trust registered under the Trustee Act include doctors, teachers/lecturers, pilots, and other professionals working for religious societies, institutions run by religious societies, charitable organizations, or institutions run by charitable organizations fall under Class 'Q'.
Initially, doctors, teachers, pilots and other professionals working for religious organizations have been getting class 'D' work permits but when work permit fees for class 'D' were reviewed upward from Sh400,000 to Sh1,000,000, organizations including but not limited to the Catholic church, African Inland Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church raised serious complaints that the fees are too high.
Mudavadi said the fees were reviewed, teachers from the Rift Valley Academy run by the AIC - Church, doctors from Kijabe Mission Hospital, and doctors from Tenwek Hospital in Bomet submitted applications for Class 'I' for their teachers and doctors.
The group also includes pilots from the Africa Inland Mission at Wilson Airport.
Mudavadi said the proposed class 'R' work permit intends to consolidate all East African applicants together irrespective of their description such as investors, professionals, skilled employees, unskilled employees, traders, farmers, and manufacturers.
He added that the key qualification will be proof of citizenship of an East African Community State and they will not be expected to pay anything.
The CS added that the newly created Class 'R', which is a permit issued to a citizen of a Member State of the East African Community who is not a Prohibited Immigrant and who intends to reside or engage in employment, business trade or profession.
Citizens of member countries of the East African Community have a right to live and work in any of the member states.