The acting Director General of Immigration Services Evelyn Cheluget says the department has introduced a raft of new measures to improve the processing of Kenyans passports.
Cheluget, while addressing the members of press said that beginning this week, staff members will be increased and some officers will be deployed. Abroad Counters will also be set aside for emergency cases, and also day and night shifts shall be introduced from Monday to Sunday while applications will now be received from 7:00 am to 8:30 pm.
Other remedies include acquiring new booklets, repairing and purchasing new machines that will allow for 24/7 passport printing. This comes amid a backlog that has made Kenyans question why the Immigration Department takes ages to process passports, a process that should take 10 to 15 days.
“We are working hard, the passport section has been working on shifts, we have dedicated counters for urgent cases and all regional heads to boost staff in the urgent counters,” said Ms Chelugut.
The Interior cabinet secretary, Aden Duale earlier this week on Thursday while appearing before the National Assembly Regional Integration Committee at parliament buildings acknowledged that corruption was deeply embedded at the immigration office.
“We will seal off Nyayo House and name it a scene of crime. How do Kenyans cue from 6am? It won’t be business as usual. We must clean up Nyayo house,” said Prof Kindiki.