Ruto: You'll get passport in a week if you want to work abroad

Kenyans looking to relocate abroad in search of greener pastures will now get passports within a week, President William Ruto has said.

Ruto said the government is sourcing for employment opportunities abroad for Kenyans adding that there are currently 400,000 job opportunities.

Speaking on Sunday in Mwatate, Taita Taveta county, the President said the government will pay for air tickets for those traveling and process their travel documents within a week.

"Every week, 1,000 Kenyan youths relocate to work in other countries. Now Taita Taveta should get ready for their turn," the President said.

Ruto appealed to area MPs to rally the youths from the county to be part of the programme.

"To the MPs, I have done my job of looking for opportunities abroad, I have planned that anyone who wants to go abroad for work is given passport and other needed documents within a week. They will not need to pay for the air ticket, we shall pay the ticket."

This comes at a time the Immigration department under Ministry of Interior has been facing challenges of processing passports.

Over the past three years, many applicants for passports faced inconveniences occasioned by shortage of passport booklets, breakdown of printing equipment, corruption and poor public relations by staff.

The department pledged to work overtime to ensure Kenyans get their passports on time.

The President is on his third day in his tour of the Coast region, the first in months since August last year.

Earlier, Ruto attended a church service at the ACK St Peters Ngambwa, Taita Taveta county.

He promised to complete stalled government projects in the county.

The President said some of the projects were budgeted for in the rejected Finance Bill and therefore their completion is likely to delay.

Addressing a roadside rally in Bura, Mwatate constituency, Ruto said that his administration had budgeted to fund the connection of electricity in the county, and the completion of stalled water and road projects among others.

The head of state, however, promised the residents that he would still push for allocation of resources to complete the projects.

"Some people who wanted us to fail. They incited Kenyans to reject a bill that would see completion of these projects. Although all is not lost, I am committed to completing development projects in this region," Ruto said.

He, however, said the current situation has allowed him to restart again and bring everybody on board for the prosperity of the country.