The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has temporarily lifted the booking requirement for passport collection to address the substantial backlog of uncollected documents across Kenya.
This decision, announced Friday, aims to streamline the collection process and improve service delivery. According to Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, a concerning total of 65,589 passports remain uncollected nationwide. The distribution reveals a particularly high concentration in Nairobi, where 30,916 passports await collection. Other major centers also face significant backlogs, with Mombasa holding 6,757 uncollected passports, followed closely by Embu with 6,608, and Kisii with 6,130.
Eldoret and Kisumu report 6,022 and 5,146 uncollected passports respectively, while Nakuru has 3,485. Smaller numbers are noted in Kericho and Bungoma, with 354 and 171 uncollected documents respectively. The department has undertaken comprehensive reforms to enhance its service capabilities. Notable improvements include the installation of advanced printing equipment and increased staffing levels to meet growing service demands. The passport collection facilities have undergone significant renovations, featuring additional service counters and improved customer environments.
These strategic investments have successfully eliminated the previous backlog of unprinted passports. To further decentralize services and reduce congestion at the Nyayo House headquarters, the government is proceeding with plans to establish new regional offices in Garissa, Nyeri, and Machakos. In recognition of Kenya’s growing international workforce, dedicated counters have been established to expedite passport processing for citizens pursuing employment opportunities abroad.
Bitok emphasizes the department’s commitment to transparency, noting that all official fees are publicly listed on their website. He strongly cautions against any attempts to expedite services through unauthorized payments or inducements. The department has also implemented a modern tracking system, allowing applicants to monitor their passport status by sending their eCitizen tracking number to 22222 via SMS.
