Immigration Department suspends issuance of work permits

By Standard Reporter

KENYA: The Immigration Department has suspended indefinitely the issuance and renewal of work permits to streamline its operations, The Standard can reveal.

 Impeccable sources confided that renewal of work permits and application for new ones was suspended two weeks ago. And it could take another two weeks before the suspension is lifted.

“The level of corruption in this particular department dealing with work permits has been shocking. The new director wants to clean up the house,” the source said.

 Newly appointed Immigration Director Jane Waikenda is keen to give the department a new face. Last week, she announced new measures to improve services.

 “All immigration officers will be required to be in full uniform with their name tags exposed to the public. This will make it easier for every Kenyan to easily identify them for expedient services. It will also help in dealing with brokers masquerading as immigration officers. They have been giving a bad image to the Immigration Department,” said Mrs Waikenda.