A Kenyan stranded in the United States has begged the government to expedite the printing of his passport so as to travel to his motherland to see his father one last time.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke Joachim Magera revealed that he applied to renew his passport on January 27, in Washington DC.
Since then, Magera complained that he had yet to receive his passport and was afraid he might get it too late since his father’s health was deteriorating.
“My father is in a dire position in the hospital and I would like to at least see him before he passes,” he stated.
According to Magera, he travelled to the US in search of greener pastures in 1997 and has only travelled to Kenya once in close to two decades.
Magera’s dad suffered a stroke in 1995 and two years later begged his son to seize the opportunity to travel to the US so as to be able to cater for the family.
Additionally, Magera’s dad wanted to see his son chase his dreams in the States.
“The last time I saw him was back in 2015 when I went back to get his blessing for me to get married,” he reminisced.
On why he has not been able to travel often to Kenya, Magera stated that it was due to familial and financial circumstances.
Despite the commitments and constraints, Magera told Kenyans.co.ke that he had been in constant contact with his family back in Kenya.
“God has been good to make him last as long as he has, and my belief is he is waiting for me to come back home,” he explained his agony.
Magera applied for a 34-page passport on January 10, and his biometrics were taken on January 27.
His passport delay happened at a time when Kenyans in the US who applied for their passports in March received them in a record one month.
On March 21, Kenyans who had applied for the 34-page passport booklet were asked to consider upgrading to the 50-page version if they wanted quicker processing.
