Kindiki Speeds Up Collection Of Last 45,000 Passports In Clearing 700K Backlog

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki on Monday, May 6 announced that the government is closing in on clearing the 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 indicated that the government has put in place measures for the expedition of the collection of the final batch of 45,000 passports.

The CS while announcing that the passports are now ready for collection, noted that this constitutes the last batch of the over 700,000 passports whose production was delayed.

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki interacts with Kenyans at Nyayo House on May 6, 2024. /KITHURE KINDIKI

This means that Kenyans who made their passport applications will be updated soon regarding the procedure for collecting their passports.

"We are in the process of transforming the service delivery in relation to the issuance of the Kenyan passports as well as creating efficiency in the delivery of critical Citizen Services, notably identity documents, birth certificates, passports as well the management of foreign nationals in Kenya," stated the CS.

Kindiki also announced that a review is ongoing of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act and regulations there under, the Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service Act, the Security Laws (Amendment) Act, the Counter Trafficking in Persons Act, the Refugee Act, the Registration of Persons Act, the Births and Deaths Registration Act and other relevant laws to consolidate and actualise the reform agenda.

During his impromptu visit to Nyayo House on Monday morning, Kindiki made an interactive tour of various service delivery points relating to the application, production and collection of the passports.

He remarked that he was gratified by the applicants' feedback of improved service delivery experience and customer relations

He also appreciated staff from various agencies involved in the process of conclusively clearing the backlog.

On April 30, Kindiki 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.

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.