Change in oath fees: Dept

 The Government has announced changes to the requirements of the application for commissioners of oaths advising that the application fee has increased from K200 to K1000. 

Secretary for the Department of Justice and Attorney General Dr Lawrence Kalinoe in a press statements yesterday, said the increase of the application fee met the Government’s key objective announced in 2014 for a comprehensive review of all fees and charges classified under the “non-tax revenues. 

Kalinoe said collection of increased fees which were not reviewed since independence was consistent with the cost of providing Government services which had drastically increased over the years. 

The Oaths Affirmations and Statutory Declaration (Amendment) Act 2015 was passed by Parliament on July 29 last year.

 The Act was certified on Oct, 26, 2015 and had commenced since. 

The purpose of the amendment to the Oaths, Affirmations and Statutory Declarations Act 1962 was to prevent the abuse of the commissioner of oaths and to provide protection for practice. 

Kalinoe said the amendment ensures that the commissioners of oaths were appointed on merit with good standing in the community and maintained a clear criminal record during the term of practice.

Under the principal act, a commissioner for oaths was appointed for a term of six years and the application fee was K200. 

The amendment act now increases the application fee of K200 to K1000 and the term of appointment for a non-lawyer as commissioner of oaths is reduced from six years to three.