This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, has made a surprise visit to the Kisii Immigration office and the Civil Registration, where he announced a major breakthrough in passport issuance.
According to the CS, the waiting time for new passports has been reduced from seven to three days, a move aimed at eliminating delays and improving the overall efficiency of the service.
Speaking at the Kisii Immigration office, Dr Matiang'i emphasized the importance of providing vital documents to citizens in a timely manner, saying there was no excuse for delays.
“Just like how we have reduced delays in getting birth and death certificates, we will ensure we get to the policy of same-day service for the issuance of passports,” he said.
Dr Matiang'i also visited the Birth and Deaths office, where he noted that the same-day service policy was already yielding positive results, with a significant reduction in complaints from Kenyans.
He warned that his ministry would not tolerate bribery and corruption while issuing documents, cautioning officers against engaging in such practices.
“We do not want long queues and brokers in these offices. We will streamline delivery of services and will not condone nonsense,” he warned.
Dr Matiang'i's visit comes at a time when there have been complaints of bribery, brokers, and delays in the Kisii offices.
