In an effort to address the growing concerns over passport application delays, a new passport issuance office is set to open in Kericho town, South Rift region, starting in January of next year.
Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services Julius Bitok, said the new passport office, to be located at Ardhi House in Kericho, is expected to play a pivotal role in reducing the application backlog and corruption-related challenges that have affected other offices in the region.
This development comes as welcome news for residents of South Rift, who have often faced lengthy processing times and potential corruption issues when applying for passports.
The Kericho office will be the eighth of its kind in the country, joining the existing passport issuance centers in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kisii, Nakuru, and Embu. Its establishment aims to decentralize passport application services, making it more convenient for citizens living in the South Rift region.
The government has been working to streamline the passport application process, with a focus on reducing the waiting period for applicants. Recently, there has been a concerted effort to expedite the printing of passports to ensure that citizens do not have to endure long waits for their applications to be processed.
Addressing concerns over corruption in the passport application process, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has vowed to take strong action against any officials found engaging in corrupt practices. He has also reassured the public that the passport application process is meant to be free from any form of bribery or favoritism.
The government’s overall objective is to ensure that passport applications are processed efficiently, with the goal of reducing the processing time to no more than two weeks.
The addition of the Kericho office is expected to contribute significantly to achieving this goal and improving the overall passport application experience for Kenyan citizens.
