Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill Stories

Parliamentary Budget Office projects Sh40 million annual revenue from Diaspora Citizenship Bill
Lucy Mumbi  |  Apr 22, 2025

The revenue will stem from the estimated four million Kenyans living in the diaspora, with a small percentage, 0.01 per cent, of them expected to appl...

How to apply for your child’s passport as demand rises in Kenya
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Apr 06, 2025

All applications must be completed online via the eCitizen portal, where the parent or guardian is required to input key details, including the child’...

Senators question rising number of foreign workers in Kenya
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 27, 2025

They argued that an increasing number of foreigners are taking up jobs in small-scale enterprises, salons, barbershops, and even hawking, positions th...

PS reshuffle: Julius Bitok moved to education as Kipsang exits to Immigration
Lucy Mumbi  |  Mar 20, 2025

Among those reshuffled is Immigration PS Julius Bitok, who has been reassigned to the State Department for Basic Education, replacing Belio Kipsang.

Agencies of shame: How state departments spent Sh14 billion with no tangible results
Lucy Mumbi  |  Mar 17, 2025

Nyakang’o has now called for stricter budget monitoring and adherence to results-based allocation of resources to enhance service delivery.

Gov't increases immigration department budget to Sh20.1bn amid rising passports demand
Lucy Mumbi  |  Feb 20, 2025

According to the Directorate of Immigration, an estimated 5,000 passport applications are processed daily, highlighting the growing demand for travel...

US agents raid New Jersey worksite as Trump escalates immigration crackdown
Reuters  |  Jan 24, 2025

Trump issued a raft of executive orders after taking office on Monday that aim to clamp down on illegal immigration. He has taken steps to punish offi...

Immigration department cancels controversial tourist insurance tender amid backlash
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jan 21, 2025

The decision follows protests from local insurers who accused the government of discrimination in the bidding process.

Treasury boosts Immigration Department’s budget to tackle delays in issuance of crucial documents
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jan 20, 2025

The Treasury clarified that the new funding model is a one-off arrangement meant to meet specific needs.

Donald Trump promises harsh immigration limits on his first day in office as US president
Reuters  |  Jan 20, 2025

He vowed to repeal "every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration" within hours of assuming the presidency.

Immigration department faces backlash over controversial foreign visitors’ insurance tender
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jan 16, 2025

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority has weighed in on the matter, warning that the restricted tender violates several procurement laws.

Bill seeks to allow citizenship for Africans in diaspora with Kenyan roots
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jan 05, 2025

Applicants must provide proof of Kenyan descent, a clean criminal record, and a genetic genealogy test conducted by Kenyan authorities.

Kenya, UN launch Sh3.7bn programme to improve refugee mobility, integration
Alfred Onyango  |  Dec 20, 2024

The initiative majorly seeks to improve governance and strengthen service delivery towards empowering communities affected by migration.

State clears passport backlog, opens new offices to ease access for job seekers
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Dec 20, 2024

The government has revealed that it has bought one million passport booklets and recruited 300 new immigration officers to meet the growing demand.

PS Bitok: State to hasten processing of dual citizenship requests for Kenyan diaspora
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Dec 13, 2024

The PS noted that the policy aims to encourage those who migrated abroad and acquired other nationalities to invest more in Kenya.

MPs demand state intervention to forestall a potential refugee management crisis
Lucy Mumbi  |  Nov 28, 2024

Environmental degradation in areas with high refugee populations was also raised as a concern.

Illegal migrants surge as Kenya arrests 1,455 individuals in 12 months
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Nov 27, 2024

To address these rising challenges, the Kenyan government has been strengthening its border security and enforcement of immigration laws.

Kenyans urged to pick over 65,000 passports uncollected countrywide
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Nov 15, 2024

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

State mulls relocating Immigration headquarters from Nyayo House to erase negative history
Lucy Mumbi  |  Sep 29, 2024

PS Bitok acknowledged the negative history surrounding Nyayo House, noting that the government is not proud of the building’s association with past ma...

More immigration officers to be sent to borders to boost mpox screening
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 28, 2024

They will work closely with the Ministry of Health and other agencies to screen incoming visitors for signs of the virus.

Immigration officers to adopt berets as part of their new uniform
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 28, 2024

Previously, immigration officers wore turtle green uniforms, consisting of trousers and blazers.

Kenya champions the free movement of people in east Africa, but it’s failing immigrants and refugees at home
The Conversation  |  Aug 30, 2024

Local governments recognise the significance of migrants’ contributions. In an era of fiscal constraints, thriving migrant businesses, particularly in...

Refugees to access unique SIM cards, KRA pins in Kenya's intergration plan
Issa Hussein  |  Aug 22, 2024

On taxation, he said refugees can now obtain KRA PIN numbers without the need for class M permits. 

Court lifts order barring issuance of Maisha cards
Mary Wambui  |  Aug 12, 2024

Immigration PS Julius Bitok informed the court in his affidavit that the court had vacated a similar order it had issued earlier this year in response...

Ethiopian rights group reveals discrimination in Trigrayan passport issuance
Lavender Kavagi  |  Aug 06, 2024

According to the report, systemic abuses and violations of constitutional rights have prompted calls for immediate reforms to address these concerns....

UK's Starmer vows speedy punishment to quell violent protests
Reuters  |  Aug 05, 2024

The violence erupted last Tuesday after social media posts said the suspected attacker in Southport was a radical Islamist who had just arrived in Bri...

Kenya and Nigeria warn citizens about escalating violence in the UK
Mwangi Maina  |  Aug 05, 2024

In contrast, the Nigerian government released a strongly worded statement describing the violence as having "dangerous proportions."

Anti-immigration unrest hits parts of Britain
Reuters  |  Aug 04, 2024

On Sunday, hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered by a hotel that has been used to house asylum seekers near Rotherham, northern England.

African students face rising visa denial rates in the US and Europe
Amina Wako  |  Aug 04, 2024

Citizens of the 26 member states within Europe’s Schengen area enjoy borderless access, while most travellers from elsewhere require visas.

Nairobi immigration office to remain open on Saturday for passport collection
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 17, 2024

Applicants seeking to collect the passports thus have between 9 am and 1 pm to visit the offices. 

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