The deadline for travel on the new e- passport has been extended to next year.
Kenyans can therefore travel on their current (old blue) passports until 1st march of 2020 according to a directive by the president today.
In a press statement released to media houses by the Governments Spokesperson Col (RTD) Cyrus Oguna last evening, applications for the new passport will however continue countrywide.
“His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the Cabinet Secretaries for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Monica Juma, and Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Dr. Fred Matiang’i to work with foreign missions across the world to facilitate issuance of visa to Kenyans on the current passports,” the governments spokesperson statement said.
Oguna urged Kenyans to take advantage of the extension and not wait until the last minute to apply. Initially Kenyans had until end of next month to change their old generation passports to the E- passports
The CS interior had gone ahead and even added other immigration offices outside Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu to process the many applications and ease congestion and long queues especially in Nairobi Nyayo House Office.
The government had also frozen travel for Civil Servants who do not have digital passport through a circular on April 14 by the Head of Public Service.
According to a James Akoni, a Kenyan who had come to seek services at the Immigration offices in Nairobi, he will breathe a sigh of relief and also take his time saying he had queued at the immigration officers since 12 and by the time of closure he had not been served because of the long line.
Hundreds of Kenyans have been arriving as early as 4.00 am at the immigration Offices in Nyayo House awaiting for the offices to be opened in order to beat the deadline for the e-passport.
By Wangari Ndirangu
.
