It is back to long waits for Kenyans seeking passports as the Immigration department is yet again faced with delays in processing passport applications three months after the Interior Ministry pledged to deal with the passport mess once and for all.
According to sources, the breakdown of printing machines is yet again one of the reasons for ongoing delays, coupled with a shortage of essential printing materials.
Nyayo House, the nerve centre of the immigration department, has reportedly witnessed a two-month break in passport printing, plunging applicants into an extended period of uncertainty and anxiety.
“I applied for my passport in June for my scholarship abroad, and every time I check I’m told it’s in process,” Patricia Wanja, an applicant said.
In response to the technical glitches and insufficient printing booklets, the immigration department has resorted to fast-tracking emergency cases, particularly those requiring medical attention abroad, leaving other applicants, such as those seeking passports for educational opportunities, in limbo.
This selective approach has raised concerns among the affected individuals who now grapple with the anticipation of a resolution to their travel document predicament.
“I applied in November, I’m supposed to travel to South Africa in December but I’m now faced with uncertainties,’ another applicant Gitau lamented.
Lengthy queues are no longer visible as was the case before. However it is not because of efficiency, sources within Nyayo House told Citizen TV that applicants are advised to await communication from immigration authorities or track the progress of their applications online without physically visiting Nyayo House.
A spot check by naihaps.com at Nyayo House and various immigration department stations nationwide unveiled queues predominantly composed of individuals undergoing biometric registration.
Prof Kithure Kindiki said he would visit immigration offices until the passports mess was resolved.
At that time, he attributed the delays to malfunctioning machines and printers, assuring the public that the situation would be rectified with the procurement of new equipment. However, as of now, it remains unclear whether these promised machines have arrived in the country.
The notable absence of any public official communication or admission from government authorities regarding the breakdown of printing machines further adds to the ambiguity surrounding the current state of passport processing.
