Despite ongoing efforts by the Department of Immigration to streamline passport collection, tens of thousands of Kenyans continue to neglect picking up their processed passports.
The backlog remains a significant issue, even as the government pushes forward with reforms aimed at speeding up the process and clearing storage space.
As of August 13, a staggering 97,675 passports remain uncollected across eight passport application centres in the country. This comes after the Department issued a public notice on August 1, urging Kenyans to collect their passports.
While 12,384 passports have been picked up since then, the vast majority still lie unclaimed.
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok highlighted the steps taken to make the collection process more efficient. "To ease passport delivery, we have suspended the requirement for applicants to book an appointment to collect their passports," he stated. Despite these efforts, many applicants remain unresponsive, leaving the Department with a growing storage dilemma.
The situation is most acute in Nairobi, where over 50,000 passports are waiting to be collected. Other regions with significant backlogs include Kisumu, Embu, Mombasa, and Nakuru.
The government’s recent acquisition of 100,000 additional passport booklets points to the urgency of the situation, as the new stock is intended to ensure continuous passport production.
PS Bitok noted that the Department has 'reformed' its application processes, aiming to decongest workstations and improve service delivery. "We have cleared the historical backlog of unprinted passports in our systems," he said, indicating that the changes are starting to have an impact, albeit slowly.
Further compounding the issue, Bitok reiterated that the Department has established a dedicated Migrant Labour counter to fast-track passport applications for Kenyans pursuing job opportunities abroad.
This initiative is part of a broader directive from the President to facilitate easier travel for citizens seeking work outside the country.
Yet, the challenge remains in encouraging Kenyans to collect their passports. Bitok warned that uncollected passports will be disposed of if they remain unclaimed for six months. This drastic measure is intended to free up limited storage space in the application centres.
“To free up limited storage space, applicants are notified that DIS will dispose off all uncollected passports Six [6] months from the date of this notice,” stated PS Bitok.
The government’s efforts to expedite passport collection reflect a broader push to improve public service delivery. However, the lack of public response highlights a disconnect that continues to frustrate the Department's efforts.
Whether due to apathy, lack of awareness, or logistical challenges, the failure to collect passports could have broader implications for Kenyans needing to travel or work abroad.
