Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki paid an unexpected visit to Nyayo House, on Monday, October 30.
The visit aimed to assess the strides made in ongoing reforms particularly the clearance of backlogs in passport issuance.
In a statement on his X account, Kindiki assured Kenyans of the government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing service delivery.
“The ongoing Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) on delivery of uncollected passports and clearing of the historical backlog is yielding the desired results. We will maintain the momentum on operational reforms at the Immigration Department until optimal results are achieved in the application, processing, and collection of passports and other citizenship documents,” Kindiki stated.
He emphasized the significance of the ongoing Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) in expediting the delivery of uncollected passports and clearing the longstanding backlog.
The CS affirmed a dedication to maintaining the momentum of operational reforms within the Immigration Department until optimal results are achieved in the application, processing, and collection of passports and other citizenship documents.
He engaged with citizens seeking services, aiming to both monitor the improvements and provide reassurance of the government’s relentless efforts to streamline operations at the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services.
“Made an impromptu visit at the Immigration Department’s Nyayo House Headquarters to check on the progress and sustainability of the ongoing reforms, engaged citizens seeking services, and assured them of the Government’s unrelenting efforts to streamline operations at the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services,” Kindiki assured.
Kindiki promises to rid Nyayo House of corruption
This comes two months after Kindiki attributed the sluggish handling of travel documents to rampant corruption at Nyayo House.
He also testified before the Regional Integration Committee at Parliament Buildings on August 24.
During the hearing, the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the existence of corrupt practices, indicating that some officials were accepting bribes for government services that should be free of charge.
“I have received credible intelligence that could suggest that part of our problem in the processing of passports is a corruption problem. There are good officers who are there serving the country patriotically but there are others collecting bribes and harassing the people of Kenya to get services that they should be getting for free,” Kindiki told the committee.
“I am committed to a thorough cleanup of Nyayo House. If necessary, we will close down the premises and declare it a crime scene. The status quo of Kenyans queuing from 6 AM will not continue. Nyayo House must undergo a complete overhaul,” he added
A day later, law enforcement apprehended four suspected passport brokers at Nyayo House, identified as Josphat Khamandi Manyonyi, Howard Tsimbagi (also known as Button), Ahmed Ibrahim Sheikh, and Hassan Mohamed Hosman.
Following the arrest, Kindiki imposed a ban on idlers frequenting the Immigration and Citizen Services offices at Nyayo House in Nairobi.
He declared that access to the facility would be restricted exclusively to staff and legitimate passport applicants.
Kindiki issued a stern warning, emphasizing that individuals engaging in loitering or acting as passport brokers would face severe legal consequences.