Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has ordered the Department of Immigration Services to process all applications for the Kenyan passport within seven working days.

In a bid to address the current passport application backlog, Kindiki also ordered the state Department under his ministry to process pending passport applications within 21 days.

“To unlock the backlog within the Immigration department, I have directed that the 42,000 pending passport applications be processed within 21 days,” ordered Kindiki.

He added, “Thereafter, all applications must be processed within 7 days.”

Speaking at Harambee House, the CS also directed that all applications for medical, educational and other emergency services be processed within 24 hours henceforth.

“I plead for patience from all those seeking services at the Immigration department. Within seven days, the faulty printing equipment will be fixed.


“60,000 booklets were delivered last Friday and will be used to deal with the backlog of 42,000 passport applications.”

Kenyans have been lamenting on social media over the long delays in processing and issuance of passports which the department has blamed on faulty printing equipment.