PS Issues New Directive on Passports as New Charges Take Effect

PS Issues New Directive on Passports as New Charges Take Effect

PS Issues New Directive on Passports as New Charges Take Effect: Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has urged individuals with pending passports to pick them up.

In a press statement released today, March 5, the PS explained that the department had intensified its operations and that affected individuals should pick up their passports to make room for new ones.

According to Bitok, there are 58,330 passports in the backlog as Follows; Nairobi leading with 24,613, followed by Embu with 9,584.

Others include Kisumu (6,087), Mombasa (5,759), Eldoret (4,538), Nakuru (4,466), and Kisii (3,283).

Bitok stated,”Applications are being processed on a first-in-first-out basis subject to the availability of specific booklets determined by the number of pages paid for by each applicant,”

“We urge applicants who have already been notified that their passports are ready
to collect them as soon as possible to free up storage space,” he added.

This comes after the Government Spokesperson Mwaura, announced that the Gov’t had procured two more machines to expedite the production process and reduce waiting times. It is anticipated that these two machines will facilitate the issuance of over 100,000 passports.

At the moment, Passport Application charges have increased by 75 per cent. Kenyans will pay Ksh7,500 for an ordinary 34-page booklet while the ordinary 50-page booklet will cost Ksh9,500.

In contrast, the previous charge to acquire a 34-page booklet was Ksh4,500, and a 50-page document went for Ksh6,000. The charges for an ordinary 66-page booklet have increased from Ksh7,500 to Ksh12,500.

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