Government speaks on cause of delay of passports, offers solutions to those in need
Authorities Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, in an announcement on Thursday, February 15, 2024, identified that the disaster stems from delays within the provide of 34-page passport booklets, that are priced at Ksh4,550.
Mwaura attributed the scarcity to gradual deliveries from the provider, stating, “The scarcity has been brought on by gradual supply of the booklets by the provider.”
Nevertheless, he reassured affected members of the general public that measures are in place to make sure a gradual provide of the booklets, that are sourced from overseas as a result of safety considerations.
“The paperwork are normally printed exterior the nation for safety causes, leaving solely the applicant’s Bio-data web page to be printed domestically upon software.” He additional added, “A consignment of the booklets is on the way in which and can land within the nation quickly, and the issue shall be a factor of the previous,” Mwaura defined.
Within the interim, Mwaura suggested these with pressing passport wants to use for the 50-page passports, that are available.
This class of passport prices Sh6,050. Regardless of guarantees to boost effectivity within the passport software and processing system, delays in buying passports have been recurring.
Final 12 months, Inside and Nationwide Administration Cupboard Secretary Kithure Kindiki pledged to streamline the system, vowing to root out cartels and brokers exploiting Kenyans at Nyayo Home.
He additionally dedicated to buying further passport printing machines following complaints about defective printers.
Moreover, Mwaura addressed the backlog of id card (ID) functions, attributing the delays to a court docket order suspending the manufacturing of the third era IDs.
He said “An attraction has been made on the case,” highlighting that roughly 600,000 ID functions are pending at civil registration places of work nationwide, with an extra 684,000 IDs remaining uncollected.
Mwaura affirmed the federal government’s dedication to initiating large ID manufacturing as soon as the attraction is granted.