Kenyans eager for swift passport services will face further delays as President William Ruto’s nominee for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, has postponed the promised reduction in passport processing times from three days to November 1, 2024.
Initially set for September 1, 2024, the new timeline comes as a blow to many who had anticipated a quicker turnaround. Already, at the moment, passports are being processed within seven days, according to Kindiki.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary defended the delay during his vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, stating that there is no current backlog of passport applications.
"We have successfully addressed the previous backlog, which once peaked at 784,000. Today, there are no outstanding applications," Kindiki assured the committee. The ministry now processes passports within a week, according to the new schedule.
Kindiki added, “We are issuing passports within seven days.”
The original promise, made in April 2024, was that passport applications would be processed within three days starting September 1. This was to be preceded by a three-week processing period starting May 1, with a reduction to seven days from August 1.
“The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to process all passport applications within 21 days from May 1, 2024, with the aim of reducing this to seven days by August 1, 2024, and three days by September 1, 2024,” Kindiki stated at the time.
Despite Kindiki’s pledge to meet the August 1 deadline, the State Department of Immigration is still issuing passports within a week. The Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) has also reported that 110,059 passports remain uncollected, adding to the frustration of many applicants.
The DIS has been actively working to enhance efficiency through modernising technology and investing in human resources. Initiatives include reforming operational processes to decongest workstations and improve service speed.
Additionally, transparency measures and self-tracking mechanisms have been introduced to provide prompt feedback.
The ministry has also established dedicated Migrant Labour counters to expedite applications for those seeking job opportunities abroad. Applicants are advised to present documents of proof issued by relevant institutions to benefit from these expedited services.
The delay in meeting the promised processing times has sparked criticism, with some questioning the government's ability to deliver on its commitments. Critics argue that the revised timeline undermines public trust and raises concerns about the efficiency of the State Department of Immigration.
