Kenya Gov't Extends Deadline for Acquisition of E-Passports
Deputy President William Ruto has announced that the government has pushed the deadline for replacing old generation passports with electronic ones to 2020.
Ruto says only 400,000 Kenyans out of the more than 2.5 million passport holders have acquired e-passports ahead of the initial August, 2019 deadline.
“The deadline is soon approaching and only a small fraction has managed to upgrade their passports to the new e-Passport. The backlog at the immigration will not allow us achieve this,” says Ruto as quoted by the Standard.
Ruto announced the news during a meeting with Kenyans living in Italy, who raised concerns over the difficulties they are facing in trying to acquire the travel documents.
Ruto is in Rome to explore avenues of partnership with Italy in areas of agriculture, trade among other sectors.
A majority of Kenyans in the diaspora have been forced to travel to Nairobi to apply for the new passports as most of Kenya's embassies in foreign countries are not offering the service.
The Kenyan immigration department recently announced that application for digital passports would be rolled out in Kenya's embassies in London (United Kingdom), Paris (France), Washington (US), Dubai (UAE), Pretoria (South Africa) and Berlin (Germany).
Comments (15)
This is a government of one failure after another. Seriously how difficult is it to replace ole passports with the new ones?
Anyone familiar with the process knows it is the most bottom of the barrel stupid process. It is the old process rebranded for epassport.
Why is it existing passport holders have to apply afresh?
The government knew all along there are many passport holders who reside in the USA but they are only realizing now that there is need for an issuing office in the USA.
Mlevi #1 needs to style up. This is not what Kenyans voted for.
Shut up! Apply for your digital passport in time. I have two expired old passports and a new e passport and the process is not the same. E passports are different. Digital info and even eyelid etc. Common... a digital passport is the world standard now.
waiting until 2020 mine expires 2022 I know you will extend once more hakuna haraka pesa ndio hakuna.. bro
Embassies in foreign countries are there for what purposes? Someone please remind me once more....
Why in God's name should a valid passport be exchanged? it is about money and diaspora have to pay more for same passport . we are being punished
No wonder. I forwarded mine to our Embassy in August this year. I have called,emailed and faxed to them nothing and no explanation. Gaasia.
Just keep your old passport until six months before expiration date and then renew it with the e-assport. They might extend again due to severe backlog!!!!
I have submitted my forms on 1st nov 2018 at Mombasa branch. But till date not ready. Everytime i visit and ask. If i ask anything more required. I am told no... its ok.
But it is not yet ready. Why why why. Those who pay extra for pushing forms get passports within a week
Pay then!!!
Thanks to postponement.It serve as a just action to many.Now we have enough time to renew.
The postponement is good news for majority especially students studying abroad.Wise decision
It would be easier for those whose passports have expired to renew in the new passport, otherwise it would mean, for example, your passport expiring one before the new passport becomes mandatory, you will renew your old passport and within one month apply for the new one! Some government policies cannot be explained, only that someone is going to make money!!
immigration people say that its a must to renew the passport before 31 aug 2019. i will be grilled at the airport if i dont have a new passport. now whom should we listen to. the V President or the immigration.
Any wise frequent traveller has renewed their passport to the new e passport. The rest is bullshit!