Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has announced that, effective May 1, 2024, Kenyans applying for passports will acquire the travel documents within 21 days of application.
This comes days after the government commissioned two new printing machines at Nyayo House, which are expected to churn out about 600 passports per hour.
The commissioning aligns with the Interior Ministry's goal to double the number of passports issued in 2024 to at least one million, up from 533,000 in 2023.
In a statement on Thursday, Kindiki revealed that starting in August, the passport processing period will decrease to seven days and then further reduce to just three days, effective November.
"Effective May 1, 2024, all applicants for the Kenyan passport will receive them within Twenty-One (21) Days from the date of application.”
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"This period will be reduced to Seven (7) Days effective August 1, 2024 and to Three (3) Days effective November 1, 2024."
Acknowledging the growing demand for passports among Kenyans, Kindiki noted that measures to improve infrastructure, systems, and staffing have been implemented at Nyayo House to ensure that services are delivered within the specified timelines.
Further, he stated that the Interior ministry will not relent in its ongoing battle to rid Nyayo House of corruption.
"17 public servants and members of the public who were part of an organized criminal gang which took advantage of the situation to extort Kenyans have been arrested and are facing criminal charges. The fight against corrupt practices within the Immigration space will remain a continuous process until the public can access immigration services without having to corrupt anybody," said Kindiki.
