Govt Announces Deadline for Kenyans to Start Receiving Passports in 72 Hours
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has disclosed a revised timeline for Kenyans to obtain their passports, promising a three-day turnaround after application.
Bitok announced that as of August 1 this year, individuals applying for passports can expect to receive them within this short timeframe, a departure from the current lengthy waiting periods.
Addressing a National Assembly Committee, Bitok stated that the department would require approximately Ksh5.4 billion to cover the associated costs.
“With the injection of Ksh5.4 billion, there is no justification for Kenyans not to obtain passports within 3 days. We have reached a consensus, including with the Cabinet Secretary, that by August 1, Kenyans will receive passports within 3 days,” he disclosed.
He stressed that the ministry was actively exploring avenues to streamline the application and retrieval process, though he acknowledged the necessity for enhanced collaboration among government bodies to achieve this objective.
This development follows closely after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki’s announcement of November 1 as the deadline.
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Kindiki, on April 19, outlined his ministry’s efforts to ensure passport issuance within 7 days by August 1, urging Kenyans to collect their processed passports to alleviate the backlog.
On Monday, the Cabinet Secretary reported that out of 724,000 passport applications filed between June 2021 and March 2024, 684,500 passports had already been claimed.
He attributed the delays to a sluggish release of funds by the National Treasury, necessitating payments to outstanding suppliers, procurement of high-capacity printing equipment, and dismantling corrupt networks.
“We now need to expedite the retrieval of 39,500 passports, already prepared but unclaimed from the backlog, while sustaining efficient production and delivery systems to ensure the longevity of our reform agenda and enhance operational efficiency in archival, record management, registry, and Information Technology,” he remarked.
The Department of Immigration announced a special initiative from May 13 to May 17 to accelerate passport distribution.
Kenyans nationwide, where immigration offices are located, have been urged to collect their ready passports, with offices extending their operating hours to Saturdays from 9 am to 7 pm to facilitate this process.
Govt Announces Deadline for Kenyans to Start Receiving Passports in 72 Hours