PASSPORT PRINTING

Immigration dismisses claims of passport hitch, says printing ongoing

Directorate of Immigration Services warned Kenyans against using brokers.

In Summary

• The department said the printer will be operational on Monday.

• This followed reports on social media that printing of the passports was not taking place.

An immigration staffer holds an e-passport at Nyayo House
An immigration staffer holds an e-passport at Nyayo House
Image: ENOS TECHE

The Immigration department has clarified that passports are still being printed despite one printer not being in use.

“We would like to clarify that printing of passports is ongoing though at a reduced capacity as one printer is undergoing servicing,” the department said.

The department said the printer will be operational on Monday.

This followed reports on social media that printing of the passports was not taking place.

“Reports on social media stating otherwise are untrue and should be ignored,” the department said.

Last week, the Directorate of Immigration Services warned Kenyans against using brokers in an attempt to skip the e-citizen appointment system while applying for passports.

Director General Alexander Muteshi said anyone who opts to go through brokers will not have their documents approved.

“The public is strongly advised to avoid engaging brokers who use unorthodox means to attempt to bypass the e-citizen appointment system. We have in place measures to detect these attempts and no service will be rendered to such cases,” he said.

Most passport applicants have in the past complained that they are forced to pay bribes because of the long appointment dates available on the e-citizen platform.

 

Edited by CM

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