Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | The Kenyan government has temporarily removed the booking requirement for collecting passports in an effort to expedite the process of distributing already processed documents.
In a statement issued on Friday 15, November 2024, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok revealed that the Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) currently holds 65,589 uncollected passports across regional immigration offices nationwide.
This move aims to reduce the backlog and ensure that citizens can access their documents more efficiently.
“The DIS has temporarily suspended booking as a requirement for collecting passports to hasten the process,” the notice read in part.
“Applicants whose names appear in the links below are therefore advised to collect their passports at the station where they submitted their application.”
The Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, announced that the Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) has reformed its operations to enhance the speed and efficiency of passport issuance and other services.
Read Also: Ugandan passport application process marred by bribery claims
Key improvements include the introduction of advanced printers, the deployment of additional staff, and the remodeling of passport collection stations to better accommodate the increasing demand.
To further enhance accessibility, the government has expanded regional immigration offices in Kericho and Bungoma, with plans to open additional branches in Garissa, Nyeri, and Machakos. Additionally, a dedicated migrant labor counter has been set up to assist Kenyans seeking job opportunities abroad.
DIS has urged the public to check the status of their passport applications by sending an SMS with their eCitizen tracking number to 22222.
