Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has revealed a new deadline for all Kenyans to receive their passports three days after application.
Bitok revealed that by August 1 this year, anyone who applies for a passport will receive it during this time period. This will be a change of pace from the current situation where applicants wait for months.
He was speaking before a National Assembly Committee adding that the department will require about Ksh5.4 billion to meet the necessary cost.
"Going forward with the Ksh5.4 billion in, there is no reason why Kenyans cannot receive passports within 3 days. We have agreed amongst ourselves including the CS that by August 1, Kenyans will be able within 3 days," he revealed.
He emphasised that the ministry was working on ways to make the application and collection process more efficient. Bitok however noted that there was a need for more collaboration between government entities to actualise this goal.
This comes days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that November 1 was the deadline.
Kindiki on April 19 revealed that his ministry was working to ensure the Kenyans receive passports within 7 days by August 1. He has urged Kenyans to collect their completed passports to clear the backlog.
On Monday, the CS revealed that 724,000 passports applied for between June 2021 and March 2024 had been printed and 684,500 had already been collected.
He explained that the delay was caused by a delay in the National Treasury to disburse funds as required. Kindiki revealed that they had to pay pending suppliers, purchase high-capacity printing equipment and get rid of the corrupt cartels.
"What remains now is to fastrack the collection of 39,500 ready but uncollected passports from the backlog lot, sustaining the production and delivery systems to ensure that the reform program prevails in the long term and creating system efficiency in the archival, record management, registry and Information Technology management," he remarked.
The Department of Immigration on Sunday announced that days between May 13 and May 17, had been designated to fast-track the distribution of passports.
Kenyans across all counties where the department has offices have been asked to collect their ready passports. The offices are also open on Saturdays from 9 am to 7 pm to fast-track this process.
