Kenyans urged to pick over 65,000 passports uncollected countrywide

At least 65,589 passports are awaiting collection across various immigration centres in Kenya, with the highest number left unclaimed being in Nairobi.

This is according to the Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS).

As a result, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has urged Kenyans who have applied for passports to visit these centres and pick up their documents as soon as possible, emphasising the importance of clearing the backlog.

To expedite the collection process, the DIS has temporarily removed the requirement to book appointments for passport collection.

This adjustment aims to streamline operations and make it easier for applicants to retrieve their passports without unnecessary delays.

Applicants are encouraged to check the Directorate's website for updates and lists of passports ready for collection, then proceed to the immigration centres where they initially submitted their applications.

Highest number in Nairobi

According to the latest data from the DIS, the highest number of uncollected passports is in Nairobi, where 30,916 documents are still awaiting collection.

Other centres with significant numbers include Mombasa with 6,757 unclaimed passports, Embu with 6,608, and Kisii with 6,130.

Eldoret currently has 6,022 uncollected passports, followed by Kisumu with 5,146, and Nakuru with 3,485.

Kericho and Bungoma have fewer uncollected passports, with 354 and 171 respectively.

The directorate hopes that by encouraging prompt collection, these numbers will decrease, easing congestion in the offices and allowing staff to focus on processing new applications more efficiently.

The DIS has implemented several operational reforms to improve efficiency in passport issuance and clear historical backlogs.

Key changes include expanding its passport-issuing capacity by investing in advanced printers and deploying additional staff across various centres.

These enhancements have allowed the directorate to speed up service delivery and create a more welcoming environment at collection stations, which have been remodelled to include more service counters and reduce wait times.

To reduce congestion at Nairobi's main immigration office at Nyayo House, the DIS has expanded its regional offices.

New centres have opened in Kericho and Bungoma, with additional locations planned for Garissa, Nyeri, and Machakos.

According to Bitok, this expansion is intended to bring services closer to Kenyans throughout the country, easing the strain on Nairobi's facilities and ensuring applicants can access services with greater ease.

Job seekers' service

The directorate has also introduced dedicated desks for labour migration to assist Kenyans seeking work abroad.

This specialised service allows those with employment opportunities overseas to fast-track their passport applications, provided they submit the necessary supporting documents.

In line with its commitment to transparency, the DIS has published all passport application fees on its official website to discourage any forms of corruption.

PS Bitok noted that passport applicants do not need to pay any bribes or inducements to receive their documents, and he urged the public to report any instances of bribery or extortion.

The DIS has further improved its services by offering a self-tracking feature for passport applications.

Applicants can now monitor the progress of their applications by sending an SMS with their e-Citizen tracking number to 22222, providing a convenient way to stay informed on their status.