Ombudsman Exposes Rot at Kenya's Immigration Department
The Immigration Department has been exposed for engaging in corrupt practices according to a report by the Ombudsman.
The report highlights instances where passport applicants were overcharged and given documents with fewer pages than requested. Moreover, there are cases of documents getting lost without a clear explanation. The Vice Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice, Washington Opiyo Sati, reveals that their investigations indicated maladministration, inefficiency, and discourtesy by immigration officials.
Applicants who had paid for 50-page passports were issued 34-page passports without their consent or the option of a refund. Furthermore, when applicants raised concerns about missing documents, they were not provided with sufficient customer service and many of the department employees were impolite and dismissive. The commission initiated the investigation after receiving complaints from nine Kenyans. According to Mr Sati, seven complainants had paid for and applied for 50-page passports but were given 34-page passports without a refund.
Two individuals had issues with the Kenyan Department of Immigration regarding their passport applications. In the first case, an applicant was instructed to upgrade her application from the 'A' series to the 'B' series due to a supposed shortage of the 'A' series, but was still given an 'A' series passport with 34 pages and was not refunded the excess payment of Sh1,550. In the second case, an applicant was forced to reapply for her lost passport after the Immigration officers misplaced her renewal application. She was eventually issued the passport she originally applied for but with fewer pages than she had paid for. She was not refunded her first excess payment of Sh1,500 or her second payment for the lost passport of Sh12,050.
As per the report, it's been stated that the department doesn't have any automatic method to repay the extra money that is paid in case the applicant receives a passport with fewer pages than what they applied for. The department claims that the complainants had edited their applications to a lower series. Mr Sati disputes this, saying that it is not possible to make changes to the e-Citizen platform.
The commission is recommending that the department reimburse all applicants who have outstanding overpayments. They further call for policy guidelines to be created to standardize how any issues experienced during the passport application process are handled. According to the commission, the policy should address matters such as cancelling applications, upgrading or downgrading applications, handling urgent applications, and outlining the refund process.
Comments
Such behavior by ‘civil…
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Such behavior by ‘civil servants’ validates why many view corrupt Kenyans and or corrupt Africans in general for that matter a bunch of Chimpanzees!
Auto mate things. And reduce…
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Auto mate things. And reduce contact with staff. Delays lead to bribes
They need to be replaced by…
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They need to be replaced by AI robots if they are not compatible with work quality expectations.
I hope the same ombudsman…
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I hope the same ombudsman will explain why Kenya’s US/DC embassy has been corruptly SELLING Kenyan ID for 20+ years @$50 to anybody willing to pay.Do embassy “owners” enjoy impunity or do they sell their own IDs?
It is very unfortunate that…
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It is very unfortunate that when this rot is exposed,nothing happens,save for afew unlucky lowly raked 'unknowns' get reprimanded ,to appease the concerned;And to make the semblence that something is being done,or the issue is taken seriously.
We are indeed corrupted to the core.It's a cancer deeply rooted in our DNA.Take athletics for example.Despite escaping sanctions,and having been warned many times about the crisis of doping in Kenya,the menace continues unabatted. This week alone 3 more Kenyans have been suspended for doping.Here are their names. ROgers Kwemoi,Agnes Barsiosio,and Michael Njenga.Not only that,this week Brenda Chebet has been replaced by Purity Chepkirui in 1500 meters for the coming World Championships in Budapest.The officials remain mum as to why the change has taken place.I highly suspect it to be another doping incident.I hope Iam wrong...
Well, I guess Mutuku was right when he said that many more Kenyans will be banned for doping before the start of the 2024 Olympic games. This news is very disappointing.
The government has pledged so many dollars to help"cure" this disease,but I am afraid that this money will just be wasted.Iam now convinced that the only way to wake Kenya up in this department, is to ban it from international competitions,like Russia was banned.As for now, the only punishment offenders get is serve their suspended period of between 2 to 4 years and then come back.What a joke!;much less a deterrent.
For those who follow track and field events, World Champioships games start next week.With bated breath, I await the performance of team Kenya. How many more will be a casualty of doping? Or have we learned our lesson...?
It is very unfortunate that…
Permalink
It is very unfortunate that when this rot is exposed,nothing happens,save for afew unlucky lowly raked 'unknowns' get reprimanded ,to appease the concerned;And to make the semblence that something is being done,or the issue is taken seriously.
We are indeed corrupted to the core.It's a cancer deeply rooted in our DNA.Take athletics for example.Despite escaping sanctions,and having been warned many times about the crisis of doping in Kenya,the menace continues unabatted. This week alone 3 more Kenyans have been suspended for doping.Here are their names. ROgers Kwemoi,Agnes Barsiosio,and Michael Njenga.Not only that,this week Brenda Chebet has been replaced by Purity Chepkirui in 1500 meters for the coming World Championships in Budapest.The officials remain mum as to why the change has taken place.I highly suspect it to be another doping incident.I hope Iam wrong...
Well, I guess Mutuku was right when he said that many more Kenyans will be banned for doping before the start of the 2024 Olympic games. This news is very disappointing.
The government has pledged so many dollars to help"cure" this disease,but I am afraid that this money will just be wasted.Iam now convinced that the only way to wake Kenya up in this department, is to ban it from international competitions,like Russia was banned.As for now, the only punishment offenders get is serve their suspended period of between 2 to 4 years and then come back.What a joke!;much less a deterrent.
For those who follow track and field events, World Champioships games start next week.With bated breath, I await the performance of team Kenya. How many more will be a casualty of doping? Or have we learned our lesson...?
"Kenya inchi yangu…
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There is a song that goes "Kenya inchi yangu,nitailinda, maishani mwangu!"...A country where Kericho County officers steal Londiani accidents victims money, Kenya where a current and former UG Governors, Mr Koti Moja and Senator Mandagor shamelessly fleece poor parents of kids college fees. I am embarrassed to be called a Kenyan. Hang all civil servants in Kenya!
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