13,290 Kenyan Passports Ready for Collection Starting Monday

The national passport delivery will continue into the upcoming fourth week of the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI).

A total of 13,290 passports will be available for collection from Monday, October 16, to Thursday, October 19. The Directorate of Immigration Services has published a list of all passports ready for collection next week. In Nairobi, there will be 6,021 passports available at Nyayo House, while Eldoret, Embu, and Kisii will have 1,386, 1,398, and 1,201 passports respectively. In Nakuru, 801 passports are ready, and in Mombasa, 1,221 have been printed and are awaiting collection. Kisumu will have 1,262 passports ready for collection next week. The first week of RRI saw 22,353 passports delivered to regional centres for collection between September 25 and 29.

The second week of October 2 and 6 saw 15,354 passports dispatched. The government has issued a warning that uncollected passports will be disposed of and their owners penalized in accordance with the law. Interior CS Kithure Kindiki is taking steps to address corruption at the Immigration Department in response to public concerns about delayed processing of travel documents. In a candid confession, Kindiki last week acknowledged the deep-rooted corruption within the Immigration Department but made a resolute promise to dismantle the influential cartels behind it. In a bid to eradicate corrupt practices, the Cabinet Secretary implemented a ban on boda boda riders and idlers near immigration offices, effectively transforming the area into a corruption-free zone.

Since Kindiki's initiative to expedite passport delivery time, Kenyans who have submitted passport applications have experienced remarkable improvements. The once arduous process has become significantly less burdensome, thanks to the introduction of a 24-hour shift. This accelerated turnaround period has received widespread praise from applicants, who attest to its efficacy. Emergency applications, particularly those from individuals in need of medical treatment abroad, students awaiting admission to international educational institutions, and job seekers with imminent reporting deadlines, are now being prioritized for swift processing.

Buoyed by the positive outcomes, CS Kindiki expressed satisfaction with the ongoing reforms within the Immigration Department. Encouragingly, he welcomed individuals to visit the department and collect their passports, confident in the progress achieved thus far.