The government has announced changes to the application, processing, and issuing of Kenyan passports and national ID cards.
Prof. Julius Bitok of the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services stated that the enhancements aim to streamline service delivery, decrease delays, and ensure more efficiency in addressing the demands of residents both locally and overseas.
Bitok informed MPs that passport processing time had been cut from three months to seven days.
The PS appeared before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday to respond to audit questions about the Auditor-General’s Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
He said that production capacity has climbed to 10,000 passports per day due to new printers and broader applications counters.
Bitok also stated that the government had obtained one million pouches, eliminating shortages.
“Passport issuance is one area where we have significantly improved service delivery. When we assumed office two years ago, it took approximately three months for applicants to receive their passports,” he explained.
“Today, the process has been streamlined to take a maximum of seven days from application to printing and collection.”
To further decongest Nyayo House and improve efficiency, the PS stated that initially, only one wing was used for passport applications and collecting.
“Now, both wings are operational, with the northern wing designated for applications and the southern wing for collections,” he stated.
He also highlighted improvements in passport booklet availability.
“Previously, the government acquired about 300,000 booklets annually. Since we took office, we have increased this to one million booklets per year. As a result, we no longer face shortages of Series B or Series C booklets,” he stated.
“We currently have sufficient stock to meet demand through December next year. We have also made significant strides in supporting labor migration.He continued:
“Recognising the growing number of people seeking opportunities abroad, we have established dedicated counters to handle job approval applications.
These applications are processed swiftly, ensuring applicants receive their passports on time.”
He stated that in emergency circumstances, they have expedited the procedure to deliver passports within 24 hours, allowing people to handle critical demands quickly.
He also stated that they have increased their reach by creating new offices to deliver services closer to the people.
“We have opened new passport offices in Kericho and Bungoma counties to bring services closer to the people,” the PS affirmed.
“We are also planning to establish another office in Machakos County, in line with our vision of ensuring every region in Kenya has a passport office. This will enable all Kenyans to access their passports more efficiently.”
However, the PS raised the alarm about a backlog of around 65,000 passports that have been printed but have not been retrieved, despite several reminders to their owners.
Mathioya MP Edwin Gichuki Mugo highlighted concerns about birth and death certificate processing delays, emphasizing the relevance of these documents in succession issues and school admissions.
“You have explained the milestones in the application and processing of passports, but what is the state department doing to address the challenges Kenyans face in obtaining birth and death certificates, which are crucial documents?” he asked.
Nabii Nabwera, a Lugari MP, expressed worry over the delays in issuing national identity cards to pupils in several sub-counties.
Subukia MP Samuel Gachobe has questioned the department’s attempts to safeguard data.
The PS reported that birth certificate registration now takes only one week as a result of a change to digital processes, with 90% of registrations now taking place online.
