Foreign Affairs and Interior ministries are on the spot over missing visa stickers and passports worth a whooping Sh1.4 billion.
Appearing before Parliament, Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho shifted the blame to the Foreign ministry, noting that it should account for visa stickers worth Sh2.73 billion, blank passports (Sh202.5 million) and printed passports of Sh65.9 million it received from his ministry in the two years to June 2015.
In a report, Auditor-General Edward Ouko said the Department of Immigration only accounted for Sh1.5 billion passports and stickers against the Sh2.9 billion given to the embassies for the two items.
He said Sh1.4 billion of visa stickers and passports from several Kenyan embassies abroad could not be accounted for.
“In view of the above, the Sh2.9 billion ought to have been reported and accounted for as appropriations in aid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statements of assets and liabilities among other receipts for services rendered at the missions,” said Dr Kibicho in submissions to the Public Accounts Committee.
The PS said the Department of Immigration purchased the stickers and passports for use at the entry points in the country and in foreign missions and delivered them to Foreign ministry.
“The visa stickers used in the missions are issued to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon requisition who in turn issue the same to Kenyan missions abroad for use,” he said.
The stickers are issued to foreign citizens who need visas to enter Kenya, while the passports are given to Kenyans in the diaspora at the embassies. The Auditor-General said there are no records to prove the passports and visas were issued.
“The passports were not recorded at the embassies counter receipt book registers and also not produced for physical audit verification,” said Ouko.
PS Kibicho told the parliamentary committee that Washington DC, London, Dubai, Pretoria and Berlin were the only foreign Kenyan missions where the passports processing system had been installed.
It is shocking to learn visa…
It is shocking to learn visa and passpirt in kenya embassies abroad have been stolen and sold to highest bidder…..this is how terrorist come to kenya as citizens…….
Kenyans smare tired…time to rise up and free ourself from this greedy corrupt gavaments including counties…
@ Ufizadi, I don’t think it…
@ Ufizadi, I don’t think it’s shocking at all. Under Uhuruto’s rule corruption went up by 240% in every sector. So when we factor that in, we ought to realize that there is a systemic, deep rooted corruption booming in every sector in our resilient Nation. The politicians are self serving, we need to destroy the political dynasties and try something new; vote for qualified, vetted, younger generation. Recycling the same thieves ain’t a solution.
Well, corruption again. This…
Well, corruption again. This is a “Banana” republic. We are more interested in politics of 2022 that we forgot to safeguard the resources of our country. All Kenya talks about is “Handshakes” and who is supporting who. Distractions while the lest of the country is going down the drain. Hopefully, Dynasties will end soon so our country can move forward. Currently, the country is stuck with corruption. The country is moving backwards. Nothing can both be and not be. Either we care about our country or we don’t. At this time the Dynasties don’t. They care more about retaining power come 2022 not the performance between now and then. What a shame !!!God help Kenya!!!
Those Embassies do nothing…
Those Embassies do nothing for Kenyans. When Kenyans get sick abroad,they are on their own, when they die, they are on their own. Any help They need while in Diaspora, they are on their own. They need to be closed down. We only need a part time student who can issue visas in most Embassies. We should only have a few that can pay for themselves and close everything else down. This will safe resources for our country.
Diaspora is only relevant…
Diaspora is only relevant when it sends money to Kenya. Diaspora stop sending money to Kenya. save it until we are 100% sure corruption is ZERO
Any Kenyan supporting…
Any Kenyan supporting Mheshimiwa William Samoei Chirchir Arap Ruto to take over as the president of Kenya and continue with corruption come 2022 is a “TRUE ENEMY” of all Kenyans.
Why do we have an embassy in…
Why do we have an embassy in Washington which only opens for four days a week from 9 am to 1 pm?And you can even be lucky if your phone call is answered by a rude lady.
You have said the truth we…
You have said the truth we don’t need them they do nothing to poor mwananichi they are their just for a check
Few years ago they said…
Few years ago they said thousands of Visa stickers could not be accounted for in Kenya Embassy in Washington, DC. That means they never solved the problem but they let it grow. Somebody is selling them to Al Shabab
Wait a minute is it a favour…
Wait a minute is it a favour to have Embassies attend to its citizens..while geting my visa at 254 USA Embassy there was Express line service for citizens while we immigrants lined up long queue.I expect if I visit DC Kenyan Embassy to be treated like VIP Hata simu pekee.NKT….
Kibicho: Stop whining before…
Kibicho: Stop whining before parliament. You have been sleeping on your job. You have spent your time fighting Sonko and planning how to scuttle Ruto’s bid for the top job in Kenya. Stop for a week, call all these ambassadors to Nairobi and have them account for all those passports and stickers. Is it that hard?
If these scandals are…
If these scandals are exposed and the culprits are not punished, you might as well not publish them, because you are not telling us anything new.What will be newa is when we read that,” Mr xyx has been sentenced to 25 years na viboko sita kila wiki for stealing passport stickers…” Till then. please refrain from repeating same old stories.We are tired of them.
Kwa nini baada ya miaka 54 …
Kwa nini baada ya miaka 54 (hamsini na minne) baada ya nchi ya Kenya kupata Uhuru, ukipiga simu kwenye afisi ya ubalozi wa Kenya nchini Marekani unasikia mtu akikuzungumzia huku akitumia lugha ya Kikoloni yaani Kiingereza?
Ukipiga simu kwenye afisi ya ubalozi wa nchi ya Marekani katika nchi ya Kenya, husikii Kiswahili!
Viongozi wetu katika nchi ya Kenya wangali mahabusu wa lugha ya Kiingereza. Kwa nini Kiingereza kinatumiwa bungenimwetu? Kama huwezi kusema Kiswahili bungeni, kusema kweli , wewe si Mkenya! Na pia hufai kuwa katika bunge letu!