President Uhuru Issues New Directive on e-Passports for Kenyans in Diaspora
President Kenyatta has directed the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue Kenyans in the diaspora with e-Passports in their countries of residence.
Kenyatta issued the order on Thursday during a meeting with Kenyans living and working in Namibia. Kenyatta is on a state visit to the South African country.
Speaking during the meeting, Kenyatta said there is no reason why Kenyans abroad should waste their time and resources traveling back home to acquire the new generation travel documents.
“Form a team that will go from country to country to register Kenyans in the diaspora. No Kenyan should be forced to spend money to travel to Kenya to get passports,” he said during the meeting held at the Windhoek Country Club.
His directive comes weeks after Immigration Director-General Alexander Muteshi announced they would be opening six stations abroad to allow Kenyans in the diaspora apply for e-Passports.
Muteshi said the new stations would be based in Paris (France), Berlin (Germany), Washington (USA), London (UK), Dubai (UAE) and Johannesburg (South Africa).
Kenyatta was the chief guest at the 29th Namibia Independence Day celebrations held in the country's capital, Windhoek on Thursday.
Comments (17)
Which Washigton in USA? Washingto DC, Washingon , Seatle, Washington, PA?
You left out Washington, NJ
And I hope all in the Diaspora pay the same amount for the e-passports? Last time I checked,those in North America were to be charged exorbitantly, not sure why.
The USA is such a huge mass of a country only to have one e-passport station in unidentified Washington
People need to post some informed declarations.
Verbal diarrhea the same announcement he made about cars for returning Kenyans tax exemption and nothing happened Kenyan embassy in DC is run like cartel actually i don't mind paying 50 dollars and us the American passport instead of dealing with those scum bags!!
Talk is cheap! Issuing roadside directives is not showing leadership. Leaders show their acumen with results not proclamations. Where are your results? Never mind the results are there for all to see. Kenyans starving to death as you joyride in Namibia. Bure kabisa! Pombe tu!
The vital issue on the table now is about the Dam scandal and corruption at large.
The people wants to know what action you have taken so far rather deviating attention on ePassport and the generality on the war for corruption is on .... saying "this time even my brother will not be spared"
Maybe there are 2 president and 1 VP in Kenya.
Thank you so much for such a noble directive which we have been waiting for. Thank you so much Mr. president.
Jamani! tuishi kulingana na mapato yetu ya nchi na pia kulingana na maisha ya kawaida ya wananchi.
Hebu tazameni maisha ya Hayati kiongozi wa nchi ya Burkina faso Ndugu Sankara.
https://youtu.be/oEBbWvXyTEo
You don't go to chastice your staff in a foreign land as though the issues those in the diaspora raised are foreign to you. Slow down mtoto, you didn't turn to be an angel today forgetting your yesterday.
Pako la mafuta kwa tako la chupa tu. Cannot be the same person to all the people, the same time, the same way! Talk talk and no action causes paralysis of the mind. Close home wanasema ngoja ngoja huumiza matumbo!
So true. He has no idea what being President is all about. He think being President is all about dressing in military costumes and pretending to be in the military. He does not have an idea how to conduct himself in public. He thinks dressing down his cabinet secretaries makes him look like he is in control. This is the worst president Kenya has ever had. Bure kabisa.
Why waste tax payer money by bringing staff from home but instead use the embassy staff who actually are idol. or train diaspora we are not very stupid we can learn.
The entire mainland Europe cannot be served by Berlin , Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Belgium, Netherlands , Austria, Italy , Switzerland etc Germany is also huge from hamburg , Munich, Hannover etc is already quite a journey to Berlin. to avoid sleep over will this be by appointments
WHY DO WE HAVE TO RENEW PASSPORTS WHICH ARE HAVE NOT EXPIRED AT OUR COST? THIS IS TO GET OUR KENYANS INFORMATION VIA HUDUMA CARD! THEY WILL EVENTUALLY FIND IT A CHALLENGE TO COMBINE A HUDUMA CARD WITH THE ID. I WAS THINKING THE HUDUMA CARD IS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD WHICH NUMBER CAN BE REGISTERED IN THE ID . SOMETIMES I WONDER IF PEOPLE THINK FROM FRONT OF BEHIND
Problem here are the two CSs (internal security and international affairs). They understand the problem very well, and they're clueless on how to resolve. Matiang'i and Juma, you've Kenyans all over the world with valid passports. Even if you were to provide passports in every city in the world, they still would not get the new passport because you've requirements for documents that are in Kenya. That's the problem you should be solving, not wait for directions from the President. Our CSs are very fast when making appointments, and damn in solving problems and fighting corruption.
Mr. President, thanks for your consideration towards the Kenyan Population in the Diaspora. Let me also wish that these stations could be also devolutionalized. In the USA for example coming from Texas to Washington is still a challenge. The fare and accommodation would still be a cost. This is a continent not a country which you know Mr. President. I kindly request decentralization of the two activities of Huduma Number and the issuance of the e-passport. I have ideas and I can help in this.