Kenyan Immigration Department Successfully Clears Passport Backlog

The Kenyan government has achieved a major milestone in clearing a backlog of 700,000 passport applications.

This accomplishment marks the culmination of a focused effort by the Immigration Department as announced by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on May 6th. The final batch of 45,000 passports has been printed and successful applicants will soon receive instructions on collection procedures. This success signifies the government's dedication to enhancing service delivery specifically regarding passport issuance and other critical citizen services.

“The Government has put in place measures for the expedition of the collection of the final batch of 45,000 passports which are now ready, and which constitute the last batch of the over 700,000 passports whose production was delayed,” says Kindiki.

Kindiki emphasizes the implementation of measures designed to streamline the application process and improve overall efficiency. These efforts extend beyond passports with plans to expedite the issuance of essential documents like identity cards, birth certificates, and management systems for foreign nationals. During his impromptu visit to Nyayo House, Kindiki interacted with both applicants and those collecting passports, expressing gratification at the positive feedback concerning improved service delivery and customer interaction.

He notes that the successful clearance wouldn't have been possible without the dedication of immigration officials and agencies. On April 30th, Kindiki outlined a strategy to print nearly 50,000 passports within a two-week period starting May 10th. This initiative, coupled with the acquisition of new, high-capacity printing machines, has addressed the bottleneck caused by outdated equipment and significantly reduced processing delays.