NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services is rolling out a suite of upgrades to passport and national ID services, aiming to slash wait times, improve efficiency, and enhance convenience for citizens at home and abroad.
Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced these improvements during a recent session with the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee, shedding light on advancements in document processing and the department’s plans for wider accessibility.
Gone are the days of waiting months for a passport. According to Bitok, the department has reduced processing time from three months to just seven days, thanks to new printers, expanded counters, and the acquisition of one million passport pouches to avoid shortages.
“When we took office two years ago, applicants faced long delays. Today, we’ve streamlined the process from application to collection,” Bitok said.
Production capacity has also surged to 10,000 passports daily, a significant leap aimed at meeting growing demand, particularly from Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad.
The department has set up dedicated counters for labor migration cases, ensuring expedited passport issuance for job-seekers heading overseas.
However, despite these advancements, a backlog of 65,000 printed passports remains uncollected, with the department urging citizens to pick them up.
Addressing concerns raised by lawmakers, Bitok highlighted strides in digitizing civil registration services.
Birth certificate registrations, which previously took weeks, now take just seven days, with 90pc of applications processed online.
The department has also installed a new ICT system enabling online biometric submissions and digital printing of ID cards within 10 days.
The rollout of the new “Maisha Card” aims to ensure all Form Four graduates receive their national IDs promptly. To facilitate this, county directors of education are coordinating with school principals to fast-track ID issuance for students turning 18.
To expand accessibility, the number of ID issuance centers has increased to 970, with plans to establish more offices across Kenya’s 290 constituencies by 2027.
Bitok also outlined plans to tackle gaps in civil registration. When the current administration took office, only 35 civil registration offices were operational nationwide.
The department aims to establish at least one office in every constituency, a move expected to significantly improve access to vital documents like birth and death certificates.
Lawmaker concerns about data security were also addressed, with Bitok emphasizing the department’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive personal information through advanced ICT systems and robust security measures.
While challenges like uncollected passports and limited access persist, the improvements mark a significant step forward for citizens navigating the often tedious process of obtaining vital documents.
