Kenyans yet to collect 58,000 printed passports
The government has asked Kenyans who had applied for passports to go and collect them.
Immigration PS Julius Bitok on Tuesday said that at least 58,330 passports are yet to be picked at various Immigration offices across the country saying that the uncollected booklets were taking up spaces in the office.
“We urge applicants who have already been notified that their passports are ready to collect them as soon as possible to free up storage space,” said Bitok in a statement.
Bitok revealed that the highest number of uncollected passports are in Nairobi where 24,613 applicants are yet to pick their travel documents.
At the Immigration offices in Embu, a total of 9,584 passports are uncollected followed by Kisumu (6,087), Mombasa (5,759), Eldoret (4,538), Nakuru (4,466) and Kisii (3,283).
Bitok noted that the government has intensified the printing of passports to clear the current backlog of applications that has been occasioned by a surge in demand.
“Applications are being processed on a first-in-first-out basis subject to the availability of specific booklets determined by the number of pages paid for by each applicant,” said the PS.
“We urge applicants who have already been notified that their passports are ready to collect them as soon as possible to free up storage space.”
Kenyans have been complaining about the passport waiting period, with some applicants forced to wait for up to three months.
Nairobi, attracts a high number of passport applications daily.
In efforts to reduce the waiting period, many residents of the city travel to far-flung towns such as Kisii, Eldoret, Embu and Kisumu, which are less busy, for their passport processing.
In September, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki said there was a backlog of 87,574 passports. He promised to expedite their processing.
He added that the government will soon fine passport applicants who fail to collect the travel document within stipulated timeframes.
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