The state has extended the deadline for using the old passport to March 1 2021 from March 1 2002 due to poor turn out for application of new passports at the immigration offices at Nyayo House.
The statement has been released by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i who said that the extension will be the last after which the old passports will no longer be valid.
“We note with concern that 1.8 million Kenyans, mostly in the diaspora are yet to replace their old [passports with the East African community biometric e-passport,” he said.
Matiang’i also added that the government’s plans to have the document issued on the same day is under way and will be realized by July 2020.
Apart from Nairobi, four more immigration service offices have opened up in Kisii, Eldoret, Nakuru and Embu.
Interior Ministry also said that six immigration centers have also been opened in the diaspora to rationalize the issuance of the new generation passports before the deadline.
Interior Secretary said that the ‘e-passport centres’ in Washington DC and Dubai are up and running. Citizens in the diaspora have been advised to take advantage of the added time to access the correct travel documents and avoid inconveniences.
Kenyan passport has equally gained strength in the latest global ranking becasuse it has moved two places to position 72 out of 107 countries, that is according to 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking released on Tuesday.
Prior to the latest rankings, it was to was ranked position 74 globally in last year July’s (quarter three) report when citizens could gain access to 70 destinations without first processing a visa.
