Immigration Dept Prints Over 96k Passports As Pressure Piles On Officials Over Delays, Corruption

• The Directorate of Immigration Services has defended itself following criticism from a section of Kenyans online
• Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki attributed the delays to corruption at Nyayo House, labelling the department a crime scene
• In a circular to newsrooms, the Immigration Department dismissed the criticism against them, noting that between July 13 and August 2023, they had printed 96,310 passports

Nairobi - The Directorate of Immigration Services has defended itself following wide criticism from a section of Kenyans.

This came following complaints by Kenyans that the department takes too long to process and issue passports.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki raised the issue on Thursday, August 24, when he appeared before the National Assembly's Regional Integration Committee.

During the sitting, Kindiki attributed the delays to corruption at Nyayo House, labelling the department a crime scene.

However, in a circular to newsrooms on Friday, August 25, the Immigration Department dismissed the criticism against them.

The department noted that between July 13 and August 2023, Nyayo House had printed 96,310 passports.

They explained that 53,750 were printed by personnel working the day shift, while the remaining 42,560 were processed during the night shifts.

Kenyans decry massive corruption at Immigration Department

Earlier, a section of Kenyans took to Twitter to disclose how they had to bribe officials at the immigration department so that their passports could be quickly processed.

They complained that the immigration officials claimed their machines were faulty, but shockingly, the devices operate again if you cough out a few amounts in bribes.

Following the outcry, Kindiki vowed to clean up Nyayo House to ensure seamless processing of passports.

Kindiki regretted that some government officials had transformed Nyayo House into a centre for individuals preying on those seeking new passports.

Kindiki disclosed that his office and that of President William Ruto had received reliable intelligence and complaints from Kenyans on how applicants are forced to give a bribe of as high as KSh 10,000 before their passports are processed.

Kenyans to acquire passports within seven days

In June this year, Kindiki announced that Kenyans applying for passports will receive them in seven days.

Kindiki also said the 42,000 passport applications backlog would be cleared in three weeks after a faulty printer was fixed.

"To unlock the backlog within the Immigration department, I have directed that the 42,000 pending passport applications be processed within 21 hours. Thereafter, all applications must be processed within 7 days," Kindiki said.

On Thursday, June 1, the soft-spoken CS said that in an emergency for applicants seeking medical and educational services, such applications must be considered and processed within 24 hours.