State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has called on Kenyans with pending applications to collect their passports from designated centres across the country.
Bitok announced that 90,000 passports remain unclaimed nationwide, encouraging applicants to pick up their documents to clear the existing backlog.
Addressing the media from his office on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Bitok announced significant improvements to the passport processing system, including the acquisition of two new passport printing machines.
“Over 90,000 passports remain uncollected. Collect your passports,” Bitok said.
According to the PS, the new equipment will bolster the department’s production capacity, allowing it to print up to 10,000 passports each day. He said that the department operated with two machines, which could only produce around 3,000 passports daily previously.
“Initially, we had two machines that had the capacity of producing 3,000 copies per day. But today, after acquiring two additional printing machines, we have a production capacity of 10,000 passports within 24 hours,” Bitok noted.
Bitok expressed confidence in the department’s ability to process passports more efficiently and reduce wait times for applicants.
Additionally, he confirmed that the immigration department has acquired one million passport booklets, which are expected to meet demand until April 2025.
“We have also procured enough booklets – a million of them – that will last the directorate until April 2025,” the PS said.
No appointment
On July 28, 2024, the Immigration Department announced changes to streamline the passport acquisition process in response to a wave of public complaints.
In a statement released on Sunday, July 28, the department shared that applicants will no longer need to schedule appointments to pick up their passports.
“Further, we have simplified the process of passport delivery: applicants are no longer required to book an appointment to collect passports,” the notice stated.
Additionally, the Immigration Department introduced a new communication channel designed to handle applicant concerns more efficiently, which will be managed by a specialized team committed to accelerating passport processing.
“We have a dedicated team to expeditiously address issues raised from all social media platforms,” the department emphasized.
