Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, has issued an apology to Fafi MP Salah Yakub following allegations of assault in December of last year during his visit to Nyayo House in Nairobi to acquire passport services.
Kindiki, appearing before the Regional Integration Committee of the National Assembly, vowed to deliver a written apology to both the lawmaker and the public for what he described as “undignified and backward treatment.”
“I will submit an apology in writing; I can’t ignore this assault,” he stated.
Yakub had initially raised the issue on X, December 11, 2023, alleging mistreatment while seeking passport services at Nyayo House and urging Kindiki and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the matter.
“CS Kindiki Kithure and IPOA, it is very unfortunate that police officers at Nyayo House are mishandling the general public, and today I fell victim, roughed up, and seriously assaulted,” the MP stated.
He further highlighted the challenges faced by Kenyan Somalis, particularly regarding bribery for services, and claimed he was not the only MP subjected to such assaults at Nyayo House.
In response to the allegations, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei asserted that investigations would be conducted upon formal complaint submission, cautioning against social media accusations without due process.
During the committee session, Chairperson Wanjiku Muhia emphasized MPs’ intolerance towards prolonged public queues at Nyayo House for passport services, stating, “We will not sit back and watch Kenyans waste time there waiting while dishing out money to get assistance.”
Regarding passport issuance delays, Kindiki addressed previous budgetary constraints and noted plans to address the backlog and streamline the process due to increased demand.
Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced measures to expedite passport issuance, including the acquisition of new passport printers and anticipated improvements in processing times.
With Kenya facing a passport backlog attributed to outdated equipment and insufficient printing materials, efforts are underway to mitigate delays and improve service efficiency.
