Govt To Produce 49,500 Passports In Two Weeks After System Downtime

The government on Tuesday, April 30 announced plans to produce 49,500 passports in a timeframe of 14 days, barely hours after the State Department announced a system failure affecting the normal passport application receiving and collection services.

The initiative led by Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki seeks to address the historic backlog of 724,000 passports.

Obtaining a passport in the past three years has been an exercise in patience for many Kenyans, often turning into a frustrating ordeal.

Underfunding, equipment breakdowns, and other roadblocks led to a significant backlog, leaving applicants stuck in a lengthy and inconvenient process.

However, the tides have turned. Since May 2023, the government has implemented significant reforms to address these challenges and ensure a smoother passport issuance experience for Kenyans.

These reforms prioritize efficiency and transparency. Increased funding has been allocated for passport production, ensuring a steady supply.

Additionally, new, high-capacity printers have been acquired to expedite the personalization of passport details. 

These steps are coupled with a long-term plan to maintain this efficiency and tackle any potential for corruption within the Immigration Directorate.

"This afternoon, directed the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services to roll out a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to ensure that the 49,500 passports that were part of the historic backlog of 724,000 passports are delivered and collected within fourteen (14) days with effect from May 10, 2024," CS Kindiki announced.

Of the 49,500 passports slated for issuance, a significant portion will cater to residents in various regions across the country.

Nairobi County leads with 27,000 passports, followed by Embu with 4,500, Nakuru with 4,200, and Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kisii, and Kericho each receiving allocations ranging from 3,000 to 400 passports.

The announcement comes on the heels of a temporary halt in passport application and collection services earlier on Tuesday morning.

The State Department cited a system failure as the cause, assuring the public that efforts were underway to rectify the issue promptly.

“We regret to inform our clients that we are currently experiencing a downtime that has affected our normal passport application receiving and collection services,” a statement from the State Department read in part.

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki speaking at Nyayo House on April 22, 2024. /KITHURE KINDIKI