Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has apologised to Fafi MP Salah Yakub who claimed he was assaulted in December last year while seeking passport services at Nyayo House, Nairobi.
Appearing before the Regional Integration Committee of the National Assembly, Kindiki promised to submit a written apology to the lawmaker and the general public for the “undignified and backward treatment".
"I will submit an apology in writing, I can't ignore this assault," remarked Kindiki.
Yakub in a post on X on December 11, 2023, claimed he was assaulted while seeking passport services at Nyayo House, Nairobi.
He called on Kindiki and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to look into the matter.
"CS Kindiki Kithure and IPOA, it very unfortunate that police officers at Nyayo house are mishandling the general public and today I fell a victim, roughed up and seriously assaulted," the MP said.
The legislator claimed Kenyan Somalis particularly face a challenge as they are required to pay bribes for services.
He further alleged that he is not the only MP who has experienced the assault at Nyayo House.
Responding to the allegations, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei said they will conduct investigations if and when the complainant makes a formal report.
He said it is not right for one to mob lynch and accuse police on social media.
On Thursday, committee chair Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri MP) said MPs will not tolerate seeing the public queue for long hours at Nyayo House to get passports.
"We will not sit back and watch Kenyans waste time there waiting while dishing out money to get assistance," said Muhia.
Regarding delays in the issuance of passports, Kindiki said earlier budgetary constraints have been addressed.
The CS said they haven't met the set targets because of an exponential increase in demand for passports but noted that plans are underway to address the backlog and streamline the process.
On Wednesday, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that Kenyans will be getting passports within 21 days from April.
Bitok has said that Kenya is set to receive two new passport printers by the end of March.
The Principal Secretary said that with the additions, the country is now well-prepared to address the passport backlog issue.
Kenya has been grappling with a backlog, which has been attributed to the use of an old printer and a lack of printing booklets.