By Moses Adongo
In a bid to precipitate acquisition of electronic passports, the Government of Kenya has promised
to set up new processing centers. Having provided the services solely for a long time, the eight
centers are expected to cut the pressure off the immigration department sitting in Nyayo House
in Nairobi.
The government will spread four centers across the country while setting up four others in
Europe, America and the Middle East. The establishment of these immigration centers in foreign
countries will come as good news to Kenyans living in the diaspora, who have always received
the services at the respective embassies.
Back at home, citizens will be saved the time, energy and costs they have always incurred while
seeking the services in Nairobi. Speaking to the press, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i
noted that the government was determined to phase out the old generation passports before the
September 2019 deadline.
He added that the government had realized enhanced security as well as seamless clearance at
the immigration points since the launch of the e-passports last year. Previously, the government
had reported several cases of impersonation and forgery brought about by the lapses in the old
era.
The Interior CS urged Kenyans to renew their passports as early as now to avoid the usual last-
minute stampede in July and August next year in a bid to beat the global deadline for September.
The Kenyan Government had launched the digital passport last year in August to align with the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements. The digitization of the travel
document was also in line with an agreement reached by East African Community Heads of
State. Holders of the old generation passports were expected to replace them with the new ones
by September next year.
Through a pinned tweet on their Twitter handle, the Immigration Department of Kenya has
however maintained the prices of passport acquisition at Sh4550 for 34 pages, Sh6050 for 50
pages and Sh7550 for 60 pages and the same amount for diplomatic passports.
