The government has announced plans to open a passport office in Malindi town next year, which will be the second in the region after Mombasa.
Malindi will be the tenth passport office in the country, after those in Nairobi, Kisumu, Bungoma, Kisii, Embu, Kericho, Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa.
According to Malindi Deputy County Commissioner David Lusava, this would make it easier for travellers from the North Coast region to access travel documents, eliminating the need to travel all the way to Mombasa.
Lusava added that the move was intended to improve service delivery, particularly for young people seeking employment opportunities abroad.
“Very soon, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, we shall open a passport issuance office in Malindi."
"From early next year, those applying for passports will no longer need to travel to Mombasa or Nairobi, as passports will be issued locally,” Lusava said
He pointed out that many Malindi residents are currently travelling to Mombasa to apply for passports, a process that is both costly and time-consuming.
He added that this will solve the problems encountered in the county when obtaining a passport, noting that, once the offices are operational, these problems will be a thing of the past.
Passport collection issues in Kenya, including extended delays, a backlog of uncollected passports and a system in need of improvement, have been a major concern. However, the government has made progress in clearing the backlog and has introduced new collection methods.
The Directorate of Immigration Services has installed new printing machines, improved facilities, and streamlined the collection process to address these problems.
In his speech, Lusava also urged residents to take advantage of the newly opened land registry in Malindi town.
He informed them that title deeds could help them when applying for bank loans.
