Kenyans waiting for passports are set to wait further as the government announces another breakdown of printing machines at Nyayo House.
This is the second breakdown within one week, rising the already existing backlog.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Immigration Department also said it was experiencing a shortage of printing materials.
The announcement comes amid uproar by Kenyans over the delays in acquiring passports at the hands of the constantly faulty machine, the government’s laxity in addressing the matter is now raising more questions than answers.
The Directorate of Immigration Services receives billions in annual exchequer allocations but it is still using old machines that are unreliable.
“Despite numerous promises about the improvement of services, the issuance of passports has perennial problems.”
Despite the State Department receiving billions of shillings in budget allocation every financial year, the defective equipment is yet to be permanently fixed or replaced.
“Interestingly, only Sh150 million is needed for a new machine, as was confirmed last year by Isaac Ochieng, the department’s head of corporate affairs. This further deepens the puzzle around the matter.”
At the centre of the perennial delays in passport applications has been faulty printers. Unavailability of booklets has also been a regular problem.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday said 42,000 passport applications are yet to be processed by the office.
Promising to clear the backlog within 21 days, the CS indicated that at the centre of the backlog is a piece of faulty printing equipment, which he vowed to fix within seven days.
He added that all applications must be processed within seven days going forward and that emergency applications for medical and educational services will be prioritised and processed within a day.
“To unlock the backlog within the immigration department, I have directed that the 42,000 pending passport applications be processed within 21 days,” said Prof Kindiki.
However, Kenyans took to social media to raise doubts about whether the declaration will amount to anything.
Some spoke of delays that date as far back as last year.
