The Department of Immigration has announced the requirements for the new e-passports and some of them have angered Kenyans.
In order to apply for the new generation document, you need to have both your original ID and birth certificate, and a copy of each.
You also need a copy of your recommender’s ID, filled online forms, payment invoices, 3 passport size photos and a copies of your parents' ID.
The payment invoices will depend on the type of passport. The A series (32 Pages) will cost you Kshs 4550 while a B series (48 pages) will set you back Kshs 6050 and a Diplomatic (48 pages) will cost Kshs 7550.
Many Kenyans have decried the requirement to produce a recommender’s ID and the parents’ IDs.
In their view, the requirement on parents' ID for a passport is redundant given the same is required for one to apply for an ID.
Many Kenyans who are familiar with international travel policies also thought it was backward of Kenya to still ask for a recommender.
Other citizens were also furious with the Immigration Department after it blocked some individuals from accessing its Twitter account.
They explained that being a government service, the department should not have acted in that manner in response to the multitudes who raised questions regarding the passport requirements.
Nathan Sialah wrote “Why are you blocking innocent citizens who try to ask questions concerning your department? Isn't it their right? I thought you always say #AskImmigrationKE? This is so childish of a diplomatic state like Kenya."
Kenya still requires a ‘Recommender’ to get or renew a passport, in the year of our Lord 2019 🤦🏿♂️ https://t.co/AuxdpLhkOm
You're a Kenyan Citizen, you have a national Identity Card, you have a Kenya Revenue Authority tax number and @ImmigrationDept still insists you need a recommender to apply for passport. Ps: You MUST also submit your orginal birth certificate and your parents identity cards. https://t.co/5y7HNKPi65
#AskImmigrationKE Quick question, why should a Kenyan citizen require another Citizen's recommendation to get a passport?
Why should you bringing your parent’s ID if you already have a passport? Some digital manual shit? Fake as hell. Some of these requirements just shows how ignorant you are of technology and what it is supposed to solve. You have ID database? @UKenyatta @FredMatiangi @GKihalangwa
