Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Monday, May 6, revealed that the Immigration Department had cleared a backlog of 700,000 passports.
While touring Nyayo House, in the company of Principal Secretary for the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, Kindiki remarked that the process was the culmination of a protracted process that saw the government print the last batch of 45,000 passports.
Kindiki revealed to Kenyans who had made passport applications that they would in the immediate be appraised on the procedure for collection.
“The Government has put in place measures for the expedition of the collection of the final batch of 45,000 passports which are now ready, and which constitute the last batch of the over 700,000 passports whose production was delayed,” Kindiki stated.
“We are in the process of transforming the service delivery in relation to the issuance of Kenyan passports as well as creating efficiency in the delivery of critical Citizen Services.”
Other critical documents whose issuance will be expedited include; identity documents, birth certificates and the management of foreign nationals.
During the impromptu visit to the immigration headquarters, Kindiki toured different service delivery points.
He interacted with Kenyans who had visited the centre to apply or collect their passports.
The CS remarked that he was gratified by the applicants' feedback on improved service delivery experience and customer relations.
Kindiki further appreciated immigration officials and agencies who have helped to clear the backlog.
On April 30, CS Kindiki stated his plan to ensure the printing of 49,500 passports within a span of 14 days starting from May 10, 2024.
The government has already acquired new passport-printing machines as old equipment had been cited as the key cause for the huge backlog.
