• In a statement on Thursday, the department called on Kenyans who have received notifications to use the extended period to pick up their passports.
• “To expedite the collection of passports, our Nairobi office will be open on Saturday, 11th May 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm.”
The Immigration Department of Kenya has announced that it will open on Saturday, May 11, 2024, to allow Kenyans to collect their passports. This decision aims to expedite the collection process for those who have received notifications to pick up their passports.
The department’s Nairobi office will be open from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday to accommodate passport collection. Kenyans are encouraged to take advantage of this extended service to collect their passports.
The announcement comes after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki revealed that the government has implemented measures to speed up the collection and delivery of the final batch of 45,000 passports, which are now ready. This batch is part of the over 720,000 passports whose production had been delayed.
Kindiki stated that systems are now aligned following the acquisition of two new printers for the personalization of passport details. The government is working on transforming service delivery, especially in passport processing.
As part of the efforts to clear the backlog, Kindiki directed the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services to ensure that 49,500 uncollected passports are delivered and collected within 14 days, starting from May 10. This directive includes implementing a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to expedite the clearance of these documents.
The CS highlighted that there were 27,000 uncollected passports in Nairobi, with additional numbers in Mombasa, Nakuru, Embu, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kisii, and Kericho. He assured that the government has allocated adequate resources for passport production to ensure smooth processing.
In recent years, many passport applicants in Kenya have faced challenges such as underfunding, booklet shortages, equipment breakdowns, corruption, and poor public relations from staff. The government’s efforts to address these issues aim to improve service delivery and reduce inconveniences for passport applicants.
