The Ministry of Interior has asked Kenyans who had applied for the 34-page passport booklet to consider upgrading to the 50-page version if they want quicker processing.
In a statement dated Thursday, March 21, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok revealed that the country had received 112,700 additional passport booklets.
From the consignment, 50-page booklets were 92,400 while the rest, a total of 20,300, were 66-page type. The consignment was in addition to 50,000 other booklets with 50 pages that had been received earlier.
Due to a shortage in the 34-page booklets whose consignment is yet to arrive, the State advised applicants seeking passports urgently to consider upgrading.
"The issuance of passports will be prioritised on a first-in-first-out basis. Applicants with pending 34-page passports who have an urgent need to travel are advised to upgrade their applications to the 50-page booklet through the eCitizen portal. No physical visit to Immigration offices is necessary to apply for the upgrade," he stated.
"Applicants with pending applications and those who are yet to collect their passports can track the status of their applications by sending an SMS with their eCitizen application reference code to 22222."
Those seeking to upgrade will, however, pay an additional Ksh2,000 for the service in line with a new fee format introduced by the Ministry. A 34-page booklet costs Ksh7,500 while the 50-page version costs Ksh9,500.
At the beginning of March, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki advised all officers countrywide to adhere to the new structure which saw the costs for the 34-page booklet increase from Ksh4,500.
The 50-page booklet rose from Ksh4,500 while the 66-page booklet, which attracted Ksh7,500, now is worth Ksh12,500.
On the other hand, replacing lost passports will cost Ksh20,000, up from the previous fee of Ksh12,000.
Those seeking replacement of a mutilated passport will be subject to a fee of Ksh20,000, compared to the initial charge of Ksh10,000. Additionally, obtaining an express passport will now cost Ksh30,000.
In his dispatch, Bitok also confirmed that the Ministry had procured two new machines which are expected to expedite the process of printing passports. The waiting period will be reduced to 21 days.
