The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Service has announced that the government has successfully resolved the issues that previously caused significant delays in passport applications and issuance.
Principal Secretary Julius Bitok assured Kenyans that the processes have been streamlined to accelerate the production of travel documents.
“We are now producing passports very fast. We have two new machines, modern banking halls, and we are continuously improving our systems,” Bitok stated, highlighting the technological advancements and system enhancements that have been implemented to address the backlog.
As a result of these improvements, the government has cleared a considerable backlog of passport applications. Bitok confirmed that hundreds of passports have already been printed, urging those who have applied to collect them promptly from the designated Immigration offices.
“Let us collect our passports from the Immigration offices. We have printed 110,000 passports, and they are ready for pickup. This is a significant number,” he emphasized, noting the scale of the operation and the government’s commitment to ensuring that Kenyans receive their travel documents without further delays.
In addition to addressing the backlog, Bitok revealed that the government is expanding its services to make passport issuance more accessible to citizens across the country.
“We have recently opened offices in Kericho and Bungoma, and we are now moving to Nyeri and Garissa. We are also considering opening an office in Machakos to bring these services closer to the people,” he said.
These new centers are part of a broader effort to decentralize passport services and reduce the burden on the existing facilities, making it easier for Kenyans to access these essential services in their respective regions.
