Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki now wants the State Immigration Department to be left with Sh3 billion from the total annual money it collects.
The CS on Thursday said that the funds will help the department to enhance service delivery.
“What we are asking is that an appropriation in aid of Sh3 billion annually for Immigration to enhance service delivery remains with the department,” Kindiki said.
The CS while appearing before the National Assembly of Transport and Infrastructure said that the Sh3 billion is from the Sh20 billion the department generates in passports and permits fees.
If so, Kindiki highlighted that the money in return will generate more revenue for the department.
“This will help procure booklets, printers, improve Department infrastructure hence to enhance service delivery and in return,” he said
“This will help the Immigration Department generate Sh100 billion annually in revenue.”
The government on Thursday announced it has received more than 112,700 passport printing booklets to ease delays witnessed in the issuance of the critical travelling document.
Immigration PS Julius Bitok has said that the booklets arrived in the country on Wednesday evening.
"They comprise 92,400,50-page (B-series) and 20,300,66-page (C-series) which we received last evening," he said in a statement.
The consignment as stated by Bitok is in addition to 50,000, 50-page booklets received last week.
Additional booklets, including the 34-page (A-series), have already been procured and are expected in the country from next month.
Going further, PS Bitok stated that the issuance of passports will be prioritised on a first-in-first-out basis.
Last month, CS Kindiki took fault for the delayed progress in passport issuance.
Kindiki 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.
