Kindiki Vows to Clear Passport Backlog in 21 Days

Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has declared that he will clear the backlog of passports at the Immigration Department in a period of 21 days. 

The CS said Kenyans that apply for passports will receive their documents within seven days. His utterance came on Wednesday, May 31, when Kindiki presented his ministry's quarterly accountability report in Nairobi. He noted that there are more than 42,000 unprinted passports causing distress to those who have applied for them.

The CS appealed for calm while informing that his ministry had taken swift action to address the backlog in passport applications. He also gave a stern warning to any corrupt Immigration officials who had been extorting bribes from Kenyans. 

"I pledge that the issue will be resolved within three weeks. We have had an unavailability of booklets and a breakdown of the printer. We will restore the broken equipment within the next seven days," Kindiki said. 

Regarding the Shakahola massacre, Kindiki briefed their plans to uncover more graves as they resume exhumation at the Shakahola forest on Monday. Mr Kindiki further warned religious leaders against violent extremism, affirming that the government is investigating other phoney religious leaders. 

Kindiki reported five major issues in his accountability report that have affected national security, including the increase of violent cultural and religious extremism, political instigators, drug offences, terrorism, and lawlessness. He mentioned that security forces had achieved success in combating terror groups and outlaws who had caused destruction and havoc throughout several counties in the Rift Valley.