While ordinary citizens have to suffer long queues and wait for more than half a year before they can finally receive a passport, it has now emerged that a 'special' group of Kenyans have the ability to acquire theirs in less than a fortnight.
This has been brought to light by an aggrieved victim who anonymously spoke to nyakundireport.com and unearthed underlying corruption and nepotism perpetuated by senior government officials at the Immigration Department in Nyayo House.
As the rest wait for up to six months to secure an appointment at the department, those with a few brown envelopes to spare can outmanoeuvre the deliberately tedious process and cut it down to just a few days.
The cartel which is strategically spread out within the department operates under a well-articulated plan that also incorporates individuals from nearby cyber cafes and printing shops.
They use the shop attendants as agents to prey on unsuspecting applicants in search of crucial documents.
Prices for this special service, our source claimed, range between Sh10,000 to Sh100k depending on varying factors like origin, race and ethnicity.
The funds are usually collected by one main man only identified as "Ng'ang'a" who is tasked with sharing the loot with the rest of his group at the Immigration office.
Here is a full account by our source who experienced it first hand. "Hello, Cyprian Nyakundi. My name is Tonnie. I am so disappointed with some of these government offices. Did you know that under normal circumstances your passport could be out in just a week after the biometrics are taken? Recently, to get government services for example at Huduma Center GPO and Immigrations offices at Nyayo House, you need to have an appointment booked online on Ecitizen website. For Immigration offices, your appointment could be stretched 4-5 months from now. I was in need of a passport within 3 weeks after application for an urgent travel. My scheduled appointment was on April 2022 (5 ½months ) from application date. As I was printing the document at a Cybercafe in Kiambu, the attendant gave me her father's number who is a government official (not sure of the department he works). His name is Ng'ang'a. I have his phone number and recorded calls as evidence. He is part of a cartel that extorts Kenyans in need of quick government services. He collects money and shares with the immigration officers so that they can process your passport applications in a week. They charge between Ksh 10,000 - Ksh 100,000 depending on your origin e.g Kenyan, Asian, American etc. I decided I was not ready for such nonsense. I visited Nyayo house today even though my appointment far on the calendar just to see how extent the scandal goes. And to be honest the people there are actually in need of money! There is a lady at Nyayo House that helps you skip this appointment dates and lets you get served. Am assuming those are people who paid. And if you want to know it's true, just visit some of those cyber cafes around Nyayo house. E.g. at Posta GPO or Pioneer House. They don't even hide it. I was to pay Ksh 8,000 cash at the cyber if I need a passport within 1 week. The cyber guy would then contact an immigration officer at Nyayo house who I would take the documents regardless of my appointment date and my passport would be out within 1 week. I wish I had money to pay these guys and bring you the network of people there but unfortunately I didn't have that money. And thank you for the good work you do. Am a big fan," wrote our source.