- Part of his early morning meeting with Treasury CS was to deliberate on funds to finance Immigration and DCI operations.
- Others were to deal with challenges in the issuance of passports and certificates of good conduct.
Image: FILE
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said the government is looking for funds to pay outstanding debts.
This, he, said will help to ease passport processing and create efficiency at Nyayo House.
"The government undertakes to conclusively resolve this matter and create efficiency and timely service delivery in the shortest time possible," he said.
"Arrangements have been made to secure the required funds and settle the outstanding supplier debts."
Part of his early morning meeting with Treasury CS was to deliberate on funds to finance Immigration and DCI operations.
Others were to deal with challenges in the issuance of passports and certificates of good conduct.
Some Kenyans applying for passports have lamented that they have waited for the travel documents for over six months despite completing all the required processes.
The fee for the standard 34-page passport application currently stands at Sh4,500 while the 50-page ordinary passport costs Sh6,000.
CS Kindiki announced a crackdown on corrupt officials at Nyayo House.
The CS said that officials who will be found culpable will held accountable.
"Beginning this morning (Friday), a crackdown has been commenced to identify all corrupt officials. Those found culpable will be removed from service and held personally accountable by prosecution and surcharged," he said in a statement.
He acknowledged the pain and frustration experienced by many Kenyans seeking passports for various reasons, resulting in lost employment opportunities and restricted travel for medical care, education, business, or leisure.
"The prevailing state of affairs is inexcusable, considering that it is the right of every Kenyan to acquire citizenship documents, including travel documents. As the Cabinet Secretary overseeing passport issuance, I take responsibility for the slow pace of reforms and the prevailing systemic inefficiencies," he said.
The CS highlighted that it has been years of insufficient investment in production infrastructure, accumulating supplier debts, and corrupt practices that have hindered the government's transformation program for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services.
However, Kindiki committed to conclusively resolving the challenges surrounding passport issuance, aiming to create efficiency and timely service delivery in the shortest time possible.
He assured the public that arrangements have been made to secure the necessary funds and settle outstanding supplier debts, demonstrating a proactive approach to address the long-standing issues in passport processing.