Kenyans abroad unable to get e-passports, risk being stranded
By People.Reporter, October 21, 2022
With the deadline for East Africa Community (EAC) members to phase out the old-generation passport gradually approaching, Kenyans in the diaspora are worried they may be left stranded due to the logistics of acquiring the e-passport while outside the country. In a press release last month, Alexander Muteshi, the Director General at the Directorate of Immigration and Citizen Service said November will be the deadline for phasing out of the old generation passport for all EAC member states.
“Pursuant to the decision by the EAC council of ministers meeting held in Arusha from November 22 to 29, 2021, the deadline for phasing out the old generation passport for all EAC member states is November 2022,” said Muteshi while urging Kenyans to acquire the new biometric e-passport to avoid any inconveniences.
Kenyans living in Botswana have voiced their concern that unless something is done before the deadline date, the majority of them will still be holding onto the old passport long after the due date. This has been made worse by the post-Covid-19 economic downtrend that has made many citizens unable to travel to Kenya or Pretoria due to the costs involved.
Currently, Kenyans in Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique wishing to acquire the new e-passport have only two alternatives, either to fly to Kenya or travel to Pretoria South Africa where the Kenyan Embassy has the requisite biometric kit.
The cheapest return flight from Botswana to Kenya is about Sh70,000 per person while a bus ride from Gaborone to Pretoria costs Sh8,000 minus visa fees and accommodation.
A Kenyan wishing to enter South Africa even for a day is required to have a Visa. A South African Visa for Kenyan costs Sh9500. Serious decisions The process of acquiring the visa is also hectic and time-consuming.
“It is less hassle to fly to Kenya to apply for a passport than to drive to Pretoria,” said Misheck Gacuiri commenting on the Botswana diaspora forum while citing difficulties Kenyans face to travel to South Africa.
Tom Atonga, the chairman of Kenyans in Botswana Diaspora Association (KEBODIA) blames this mishap on government’s failure to consult with the diaspora leaders before making serious decisions affecting her people outside the country.
“The people making decisions in Nairobi do not engage those in the diaspora to learn about difficulties Kenyans are facing out here,” said Atonga.
“Which one is economical and effective,” Aronga wondered, “to transport four government officials to Botswana to carry out biometric registration on Kenyans or to have 1,000 Kenyans living in Botswana spending millions of shillings to travel to Pretoria for a simple exercise like taking fingerprints and passport photos?’
He noted that had Botswana been the one to host the immigration office and Biometric kit, it could have served with ease more Kenyans living in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa because Kenyans do not require a visa to enter Botswana. In an interview on October 18, 2022, Kenya’s High Commissioner in Botswana Mohamed Shidiye said that he was aware of logistical difficulties people are facing adding that the Embassy is in talks with the head office in Nairobi to have officials sent to affected countries to assist Kenyans.
“I have written to Nairobi in regard to the passport issue and I have also talked to our South African counterparts who have no problem sending officials to Botswana,” said Shidiye adding that the head office in Kenya has to give authority for such a step to take place.