• CS Kindiki had described Nyayo House as a crime scene and initiated measures to dismantle people he described as "cartels".
• Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok said the department has reduced the passport backlog from 100,000 to less than 45,000.
Image: HANDOUT
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has announced that reforms initiated at the Department of Immigrations are yielding positive results.
He emphasised that the consistent operation of the department has resulted in a more courteous treatment of citizens.
"Citizens seeking passports and other vital citizenship documents are now being served with courtesy, and their inquiries are responded to by our members of staff," Kindiki said.
The CS assured that they are fully committed to eliminating the backlog of applications.
"We are determined to clear the backlog and process new applications expeditiously," he affirmed.
CS Kindiki had described Nyayo House as a crime scene and initiated measures to dismantle people he described as "cartels".
This decisive action led to the arrest of four individuals suspected of soliciting bribes and defrauding Kenyans who were seeking immigration services within Nyayo House.
The arrests were conducted by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The government has erected a 'corruption-free zone' signpost at Nyayo House.
Nyayo House is a government building which houses the Department of Immigration. It is where citizens visit to get biometrics for their passports.
"Nyayo House is a corruption-free zone," the signpost reads.
The signpost comes at a time when Kenya is facing a serious passport printing backlog following a breakdown of printing machines.
Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok said the department has reduced the passport backlog from 100,000 to less than 45,000.
The PS said the ministry has been producing around 3,600 passports per day.
"We are projecting that in the next two weeks, there will be no backlog. Waiting period for passports will be cut down to within a week and eventually lead to express services," he said.
This poster was seen immediately after CS Kindiki made another impromptu visit to the premises.
Kindiki declared that there are reviewed operations at the Immigration Department, which he believed are bearing fruit.
"Citizens seeking passports and other vital citizenship documents are being served with courtesy, and their inquiries are responded to by our members of staff," he said.
"We are determined to clear the backlog and process new applications expeditiously."
Late last month, Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter) demanded for release of passports that have been overdue, with some saying they have waited for the travelling document for more than eight months.
Some accused officers at Nyayo House for demanding payment in order for their passports to be released on time.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had in August, arrested four suspects at Nyayo House over claims of being brokers in the issuance of passports.
“This has contributed to a public outcry and a perception of inefficiency and corruption in service delivery. Four suspected brokers were arrested at booked at Central police station,” officials said.