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Immigration department resumes normal passport operations after system downtime

Kenyans queue for passport application at Nyayo House in February 2024. (Photo: Kithure Kindiki/)

By Lucy Mumbi | Thursday, May 2, 2024

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki addressed the technical failure on Tuesday, mentioning that engineers had been swiftly deployed to rectify the issues.

The Department of Immigration Services has declared that normal passport issuance operations have resumed after a temporary shutdown earlier this week.

The department has experienced technical issues since Tuesday, affecting the application, receiving, and collection services of passports.

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“We are pleased to inform all our clients that we have resumed normal operations in the issuance of passports. We thank you for your patience and understanding during the period that we experienced a downtime,” the Department said on Thursday.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki addressed the technical failure on Tuesday, mentioning that engineers had been swiftly deployed to rectify the issues.

He also instructed the immigration department to implement a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to manage the significant backlog of uncollected passports.

Kindiki directed the department to clear 49,500 passports that were part of the historic backlog of 724,000.

“The directorate needs to ensure the 49,500 are delivered and collected within fourteen (14) days with effect from May 10, 2024,” he said in a statement.

Out of the 49,500 passports, Nairobi leads with 27,000 uncollected passports followed by Embu at 4,500 and Nakuru with 4,200.

Eldoret and Kisumu follow with 3,900 undelivered passports, Mombasa and Kisii at 3,000, and Kericho with 400.

The CS noted that the department has revamped its passport production and issuance procedures, marking a decisive step towards more efficient service delivery.

“The reforms initiated in May 2023 have resolved the backlog on the production and issuance of passports,” he said.

Kindiki affirmed that the government has availed adequate resources for passport production.

He noted there is a sufficient stock of passport booklets and new modern high-capacity printers for the personalisation of passport details.

Additionally, he said a programme is in place for sustaining the reforms in the long run, including ensuring that the Immigration Directorate remains a corruption-free environment.

“The streamlining of service delivery at the Immigration Directorate has given way to more efficient passport production and issuance procedures,” he said.

The government has pledged to issue at least one million passports and three million digital national identity cards by the end of 2024.

The Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship, Prof Julius Bitok, said the new passports and digital IDs will make it easier for Kenyans to access registration documents.