Government targets to issue 1 million passports by the end of the year

58,330 passports are ready for collection. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Immigration Principal Secretary Julis Bitok says the government is targeting to issue at least 1 million passports by the end of the year.

Speaking in Mombasa County, Bitok said the new targets are part of an ambitious drive to make it easier for Kenyans to access registration documents.

According to the PS, to achieve the target, the government aims to implement several measures among them the combined printing technique by the new machines which can print about 600 passports in an hour.

Other measures include the decentralization of access to passports and other services by opening new offices in Nyeri, Bungoma, and Garissa counties.

The one million target is nearly double what was achieved in 2023.

However, according to Bitok, the numbers are realistic and easily achievable.

"We believe these are realistic targets based on the strategic improvements and investments that we have made to our vital personal registration and documentation systems," said Bitok.

Also on target is the issuance of three million digital National IDs and the collection of a daily average of Sh1 billion from the e-Citizen platform through its various services which the government aims to grow from 16,000 to 20,000 from the current 16,000 by the end of the year.

"We are continuously innovating and improving the user experience on eCitizen. We want as many clients as possible to enjoy the convenience that it provides so that we can also hit our targets of generating revenue for the government," said the PS.

Furthermore, the government aims at the digitisation of 46 million records on births and deaths in the country held by the Civil Registration Services and 2 million records under the custody of the National Registration Bureau.

If the target is achieved, Bitok says, his department will not only be able to sort out delays but also raise revenue through the services offered.