The government has introduced an alternative solution for Kenyans in urgent need of a passport, addressing the ongoing delays in processing.
Explaining the delay, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura through a statement released on Thursday, February 15, noted that there was a shortage of the 34-page passport booklets.
“The shortage has been caused by the slow delivery of the booklets by the supplier. The documents are usually printed outside the country for security reasons leaving only the applicant's bio-data page to be printed locally upon application,” Mwaura noted.
Mwaura also advised Kenyans to apply for the 54-page passports which cost Ksh6,050, while the 34-page passport cost Ksh4,550.
The spokesperson further noted that a consignment with the 34-page passports would arrive in the country in the coming weeks, assuring to solve the problem permanently.
“A consignment of the booklets is on the way and will land in the country soon and the problem will be a thing of the past. In the meantime, those with urgent needs for a passport are advised to apply for the 50-page passports which are in plenty,” he added.
Consequently, addressing the issuance of National Identification (ID) cards, Mwaura explained that an appeal had been made to counter a court’s order barring the production of 3rd generation IDs.
“An appeal has been made on the case. As we speak, 600,000 applications for the cards are pending at the civil registration offices countrywide even as some other 684,000 IDs lie uncollected by the applicants across the country,” he assured.
People yet to pick up their ID cards were directed to visit the site and collect them as the government was working towards clearing the backlog.
“We appeal to those yet to collect their documents to do so, to avoid inconveniences in their official as well as private transactions,” he directed.
At the beginning of the month, the government addressed the delay in passport issuance, noting that the procurement of two additional printing machines had been completed. These machines are expected to arrive by the end of February.
Mwaura also urged Kenyans to pick up the 70,000 passports that are yet to be collected from the immigration offices, promising that an additional 100,000 passports are currently in production.
