Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki needs Ksh150 million from the exchequer to resolve the passport crisis in the country.
A despatch from the Ministry of Interior dated Tuesday, November 29, indicated that the funds would be used to purchase a new passport printing machine.
Department of Immigration Head of Corporate Affairs Ambassador Isaac Ochieng explained that one of the two machines had broken down hence causing a stall in the printing of the travel booklets.
“CS Kindiki will secure the requisite resources to streamline the issuance of passports and services offered by the other Immigration department,” the statement read in part.
The Interior boss lauded some of the reforms rolled out to better the efficiency and service delivery in the department such as the online booking of appointments.
While interacting with Kenyans at Nyayo House who voiced concerns including long waiting times, Kindiki pledged to add more service counters.
Earlier, concerns had been raised by members of the public over the delayed printing of passports with unconfirmed reports indicating that the government had run out of booklets.
The breakdown of the machine was occasioned by the influx of applications following a declaration by the government of migration to the new biometric passport.
All Kenyans were required to apply for the new generation East African Passport by Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
In October 2021, the Department of Immigration experienced a go-slow in the churning out of travel booklets which it blamed on a reduced capacity.
At the time, one of the machines had broken down and required service. Normal operations resumed after four days.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE