Kenyans Decry Massive Corruption At Immigration Department: "Printers Work When You Give Them KSh 50k"

• The Department of Immigration has faced backlash over massive corruption in the issuance of passports
• Kenyans have complained that they are forced to give expensive bribes to get their travel documents
• The Nyayo House-based office has been citing a faulty machine and the unavailability of papers to print the passports

Nairobi - The Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior is on the spot over wanton corruption in processing passports.

The Nyayo House-based office has been trending on social media for the past few days, with Kenyans complaining about delays in getting their passports.

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.

An unending list of complaints

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.

Chips vendor Bevalyne Kwamboka testified that Kenyans have normalised giving bribes to the officials to get their passports.

"We've normalised bribing those guys at the Immigration Department for you to get a passport. Their printers are never working until you pay 10K. Some even pay 50K," Kwamboka wrote on Twitter.

Twitter user Fanuel Ochieng wrote a long letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki asking him to take action on corruption at the immigration department.

Slay corruption at Immigration Department

The letter was titled 'Urgent Appeal for the Eradication of Corruption in the Immigration Department'.

"I am writing to you as a concerned citizen deeply troubled by the prevailing state of affairs within the Ministry of Immigration. Witnessing the rampant corruption that has seeped into the core of our government's service delivery is disheartening," Ochieng started in the preamble of his letter.

He called on the asked Kindiki to ensure staff at the department uphold the highest standards of integrity while dispensing services to Kenyans.

Others complained that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had joined the list as they delayed issuing good conduct certificates.

Paulo Jakadawa highlighted a case where his brother had applied for a 64-page passport but was later advised to apply for a 32-page travel document incurring more costs.

Despite making the applications, they have not received any positive response from officials at Nyayo House.

"Surely immigration this is unfair to Kenyans. Knowing this country, this is how a conducive environment for corruption is created. My brother applied for a Passport in January that of 64 pages to date hajapata. He was then advised to reapply for the 32 paged one, which he did 3 wks ago. He paid for that again. Now you come with the issue of urgent passport service. Surely Immigration," Jakadawa complained.

Mercy Barasa claimed she had not received her passport after applying for it 10 months ago.

Kenyans to acquire passports within 7 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 in the case of an emergency for applicants seeking medical and educational services, such applications must be considered and processed within 24 hours.