Government Explains Why Urgent Passport Applications Are Being Rejected

A photo collage showing Kenyans holding an EAC Passport
A photo collage showing Kenyans holding an EAC Passport
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Varsity Scope

 The Directorate of Immigration Services explained the delay in the processing of passports needed for urgent travel.

While responding to queries by applicants on Thursday, March 2, the Department noted that the applicants failed to attach the required documents.

This caused the passport printing process to stall or some of the applications rejected in totality.

A photo of the Kenyan passport (left) and the East African Community (EAC) passport (left).
A photo of the Kenyan passport (left) and the East African Community (EAC) passport (left).
File

"Applicants, kindly remember to attach documents to show proof urgency of travel," the statement from the Directotare read in part.

Meanwhile, applicants with urgent travel and who were yet to receive their passports were asked to track the passport processing by contacting the department on phone.

"Kindly share your tracking number along with the documentation via Whatsapp message on 0796374902 for expedited processing," the press release read in part.

The Directorate opened a window for those who need to travel urgently for medical, academic, and to bury their loved ones to apply for urgent passports.

Under normal circumstances, the passport application takes between four to six weeks once the applicant's photo and fingerprints have been taken.

However, the migration to digital passports led to an influx in passport applications thus increasing the average waiting period.

In November 2022, Interior Cabinet Secretary (cs) Kithure Kindiki revealed one of the machines used in printing passports had broken down hence the slow processing of the travel booklets.

Consequently, the Department of Immigration wrote to Treasury asking for Ksh150 million to purchase a new machine.

Meanwhile, the government began the process of fixing the broken-down machine.

Kenyans on a queue at the immigration offices in Nairobi (left) and photo of the new Kenyan passport (right).
Kenyans queuing at the immigration offices in Nairobi (Left) and a photo of the Kenyan passport (Right).
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DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION