State receives 100,000 new passport booklets as demand grows

The Department of Immigration has received 100,000 booklets for the printing of passports as demand for the crucial travel document continues to grow.

Principal Secretary State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok on Tuesday while receiving the booklets, said the arrival of the booklets was in line with the initiative by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to reduce the waiting period for the document.

"Continuous procurement of passport booklets is part of the reforms initiated by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kithure Kindiki, aimed at streamlining the issuance of passports to Kenyans," he said.

However, some Kenyans who applied for passports last year still claim there is no progress.

"My passport since June nothing has been done, no progress walahi I have an opportunity next month, make me not miss it like the other ones have been missing," said Bahati Gordon on Social media

"Since June nothing has been done to my passport, ati you lacked booklets, ndio hizo mumepata sasa do it quick people wasikose opportunities," said Paul Kisiroche.

Principal Secretary State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok with other officials at Nyayo House, Nairobi on August 13, 2024 receiving booklets for printing passports. (Photo: State Department of Immigration)

New printing machines

On Monday, the government acquired two new passport printing machines to aid in fast passport production.

The new machines are said to have the capability of printing 600 passports per hour.

With the additional machines, PS Bitok says the upgrade means that Kenyans can expect to receive their travel documents within 14 working days.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki in May 2024 had pledged that in September 2024, applicants would have their travel documents processed in a maximum of three days.

"This period will reduce to 7 days from August 1, 2024, and 3 days from September 1, 2024," he said then.

On August 1, 2024, Kenyans were urged to collect the over 110,059 passports at the various collection points in the country or they would be disposed of in six months.

This action, according to the department, aligns with several laws and regulations, including Section 31 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act and Regulations, the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act (CAP 38), and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations on the delivery of travel documents.

Bitok stated that Nairobi is leading with the number of uncollected passports of 55,504, followed by Kisumu 11,707, Embu 10,816, Mombasa 8,696, Nakuru 8,615, Eldoret 8,551, Kisii 5,719, Kericho 389, and Bungoma 62.