Kenyans in urgent need of passports asked to contact Immigration office

The Directorate of Immigration Services has directed Kenyans in urgent need of passports to reach out for assistance.

Immigration Director-General Alexander Muteshi on Wednesday said this applies to Kenyans whose passports are yet to be processed and have forthcoming travel.

“Applicants who have impending urgent travel, and have not managed to have their passports processed, are advised to contact the Directorate of Immigration Services via SMS: 0796374902 or WhatsApp Message: 0796374902,” Muteshi said in a statement.

“Kindly send your tracking number along with documentation showing the urgency, for expedited processing,” he added.

The notice comes just weeks after the department said it was experiencing printer problems which caused a go-slow in passport processing.

This was revealed by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, who made an impromptu visit to the Immigration offices at Nyayo House on November 29.

Prof. Kindiki said when he sought answers for the delays in passport processing, the Immigration Department’s Head of Corporate Affairs Isaac Ochieng said there is a printer breakdown that had occasioned the hitch.

“Ambassador Ochieng attributed the delays in the printing of passports to a breakdown of one of the printers. He said the department requires Sh150 million to acquire a new machine,” said the Interior ministry in a statement.

“The CS said the government is keen to streamline the issuance of passports and other immigration department services and will secure the requisite resources and reforms,” the statement added.