Kenyans are poised for a significant enhancement in passport and ID issuance processes as the Immigration and Citizen Services Department has unveiled ambitious plans to significantly boost passport issuance and expedite the acquisition of identity cards in 2024.

The target, according to Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, is to issue at least one million passports this year, doubling the previous year's output of 533,000.

This ambitious goal is fueled by the recent acquisition and imminent commissioning of two new high-speed passport printing machines at Nyayo House, capable of producing a staggering 600 passports per hour.

"We will be commissioning the new printers next week," PS Bitok declared during a meeting in Mombasa.

"We are determined to render delays in the issuance of passports a thing of the past."

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He emphasized that the government has secured the necessary resources to ensure sufficient passport booklets and cover operational expenses, paving the way for a more efficient system.

The focus on streamlining documentation extends beyond passports. PS Bitok revealed plans to issue over 3 million identity cards within the same period.

This includes 1.2 million digital national ID cards for first-time applicants, 1.6 million duplicate IDs, and an additional issuance of Maisha cards, bringing the total to over 2.3 million.

Furthermore, adhering to President William Ruto's directive, vetting of ID applicants in border regions, particularly Northern Kenya, will be discontinued from next month.

This move aims to simplify the registration process and expedite the issuance of crucial identification documents.

Looking towards the future, PS Bitok highlighted plans to expand the eCitizen platform's accessibility.

The number of services offered online is expected to rise from 16,000 to 20,000, potentially attracting over a million daily users.

This surge in activity is projected to generate an average daily revenue of Sh1 billion for the government.

"We are continuously innovating and improving the user experience on eCitizen," Bitok stated, emphasizing the government's commitment to user convenience and revenue generation.

"We believe these are realistic targets based on the strategic improvements and investments that we have made to our vital personal registration and documentation systems," he concluded.

The government also anticipates a significant increase in revenue from electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) issuance, following President Ruto's recent visa ban.

With the hope of attracting at least 5 million visitors, the eTA system is poised to become a key revenue stream.

These ambitious plans by the Kenyan government aim to improve efficiency, accessibility, and revenue generation within the crucial realm of personal documentation and travel authorization.