E-PASSPORT

Embu e-passport office to lessen long queues in Nairobi

BY JOEY KIMEU

Kenyans in Central, Eastern and North Eastern regions can now acquire their e-passports at the Embu immigration office instead of travelling to Nairobi.

Those applying for e-passports in Nairobi have borne the inconvenience of long queues as thousands of Kenyans scramble to acquire the travel document ahead of the August 31 deadline.

The Embu e-passport office was officially opened on Friday by Director of Immigration Services Alexander Mutesh.

Mutesh cautioned Kenyans against relying on brokers in applying of e-passports saying they may end losing their money whereas the service is available in relevant government offices that are staffed with committed employees.

Those making new applications for e-passports wait for 21 days to have the document processed while those replacing old passports that are being phased out wait for only 14 days.

Mutesh said medical cases were handled quickly within eight hours.

Also present during the launch was Embu Deputy Governor David Kariuki and Eastern regional commissioner Isaiah Nakoru.

Kariuki called on the government to consider decentralizing more of its services to ease access by citizens, pointing out Huduma Centres as a good example of bringing services closer to the people.

“Those travelling from far places can come to Embu assured of good hospitality and sound security,” said Kariuki.

Nakoru said delivery of government services was improving considering that previously people waited for three months and even up to a year to receive passports.

He said with accurate data obtained through Huduma Namba where Eastern region had 5.1 million Kenyans register, the government will be in a position to provide better services.