• Before you even get to the final stage which is collection of the passport, Kenyans have complained that booking an appointment has become a hustle.
• Some Kenyan say their appointment dates don't even make sense, with others saying their appointments have been further pushed even when their date is due.
Image: ENOS TECHE
Passport application in Kenya has proven to be an endless pain and a tiring process for many Kenyans.
In as much as it is well known that having a passport is just like having an Identification Card, the process of even getting a 32-page passport has become a nightmare for many.
Passports have three series, depending on the type of booklet which is based on the number of pages.
A series means the passport is 32 pages, B series means the passport is 48 pages and C series means the passport is 60 pages.
Ordinary Kenyan passports come in three different sizes, 34, 50, and 66 actual pages.
Last year, the Directorate of Immigration Services warned Kenyans against using brokers in an attempt to avoid making an application on the eCitizen platform, which is the standard procedure.
Director-General Alexander Muteshi said anyone who opts to use brokers, their documents will not be approved.
Following this rule, it has not been easy for many Kenyans with many complaining that they have had to bribe an officer to get the process fastened.
Before you even get to the final stage, which is the collection of the passport, Kenyans have complained that booking an appointment is hectic, though the whole process is supposed to take 10 days.
Some say their appointment dates don't even make sense, with others saying their appointments have been pushed further even when their travel date is due.
One Simon Masika said he was shocked when he found out that his appointment had been given to someone else yet he hadn't received any communication about that.
"I wanted to finish the whole application process and get it over and done once and for all, but that didn't happen. I got there and I was told my slot is not available because someone else has the same spot. I was not even given a chance to ask questions."
Paul Omondi said the process of acquiring passports is quite tedious.
"The whole process of booking an appointment before the processing beginning and finally collecting the passport takes a long time," he said.
"For example, my collection date has been pushed three times, and every time I go to their offices, I'm told it is yet to be released from upstairs. I wouldn't be surprised if I went back and my passport is still not ready for collection," he said.
Department of Immigration Services says that it should take at least 10 working days to get your first passport once your form has been physically submitted at the Immigration offices.
For all other application types, it should take at least 5 working days. It can only take longer if more information is needed or your application hasn’t been filled out correctly.
Kenyans have also raised their concerns about changing their old passports to new ones.
The Interior Ministry had on February 4, 2021, extended the deadline for the phasing out of the old generation passport to December 31, citing the Covid-19 pandemic that forced the Immigration department to scale down its operations.
In its statement announcing the extension of the process to phase out the old passport, the ministry said the extension would be the last and advised Kenyans to acquire the electronic passport to avoid travelling inconveniences.
The Interior Ministry said starting January 1 this year, the old dark blue passport would be null and void, and no Kenyan would be able to travel internationally without a valid EAC biometric e-passport.
But some have complained that they have had to miss their trips because they have been inconvenienced by the delays and some have failed to get help from the offices.
Speaking to Njeri Kiragu, she said she has been trying to get some answers on how to go about applying for a passport as her ID details don't match her birth certificate details.
"My date of birth on the birth certificate and the ID do not match because I got the ID earlier than the required time because of a job application," she explained.
She said she tried to reach out to the Immigration office for assistance but her efforts bore no fruits.
"I have been postponing my passport application process because it's proving hard to rely on the Immigration office for assistance.
Addressing this concern, Muteshi said in such an instance, the public is advised to visit their offices to analyse the issue and offer a way forward as cases are different.
"When details don't match, we rely on the ID. In case one has different names and wants to align them, he or she can come to our offices for advice because reasons vary," he explained.
Muteshi said that when such an issue occurs, "one needs to get in touch with the Immigration office even through social media and your concerns will be addressed."
Melissa Kivuva, on the other hand, has gone through the same hustle of applying for a passport.
She said she has been taken around in circles in regards to the collection of her daughter's passport and she is about to give up.
"I received a message that my daughter's passport was ready for collection and since we really needed the passport, I didn't waste time. But when I got there, I was told the passport is not ready and that they will communicate when ready.
"This did not make sense because I had received the notification and when I asked for an explanation, I was met with cold eyes and a rather uncalled for response and that was my cue to leave," she said.
Melissa said the delay cost them a trip because they had planned a family vacation.
"We had planned this trip for a very long time and wanted to celebrate my daughter's birthday at Disneyland. The immigration office needs to do something about their communication because it is very wanting," Melissa added.
But Muteshi said due to Covid, they had put up measures and reduced persons visiting their officers as a way to curb the spread of the virus.
"We are reviewing our appointment time because most of our officers are now vaccinated, including Kenyans. We had put safety measures and reduced people visiting us because of Covid," he told the Star.
Muteshi said the situation is now getting better and that the appointment time will now be shorter.
"We also tweet every week reminding those with urgent cases of a special desk to handle them," he added.