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The Department of Immigration has received booklets for the printing of passports as demand for the crucial travel document grows.

Speaking during the arrival of the booklets at Nyayo House, the Principal Secretary State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, said the arrival of the booklets was in line with the initiative by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to reduce the waiting period for the document.

“The Director-General of Immigration Services Evelyn Cheluget joined the Principal Secretary State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Julius Bitok in receiving passport booklets. Continuous procurement of passport booklets is part of the reforms initiated by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kithure Kindiki, aimed at streamlining the issuance of passports to Kenyans,” a statement from the Immigration Department read.

Before his sacking and reinstatement, Kindiki promised that in September 2024, applicants would have their travel documents processed in a maximum of three days.

“This period will reduce to 7 days from August 1, 2024, and 3 days from September 1, 2024,” Kindiki stated.

The new reforms at the Nyayo House also led to the arrest of some 17 officers who were suspected to be at the centre of the bottlenecks experienced in the application and issuance of the travel document on time.

Uncollected passports

On August 1, 2024, the Immigration Department urged applicants to collect the over 110,059 passports at the various collection points in the country or they would be disposed of in six months.

Bitok stated that Nairobi is leading with the number of uncollected passports of 55,504, followed by Kisumu 11,707, Embu 10,816, Mombasa 8,696, Nakuru 8,615, Eldoret 8,551, Kisii 5,719, Kericho 389, and Bungoma 62.

Bitok said the department has suspended the requirement to book an appointment for the collection of the travel document to ease the issuance of the same.

Bitok also indicated that the department has a dedicated desk for the fast-tracking of the travel documents for individuals who need urgent travel out of the country for the purposes of employment.

”We have set up a dedicated Migrant Labour Counter to fast-track passport applications. Applicants seeking service are advised to present their papers, which must include a document of proof of intent issued by the relevant institution,” he added.