Why the passport gridlock is hard to break and what Kindiki must do

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki interacted with Passport applicants during his tour of the Immigration Department at Nyayo House, Nairobi on August 31, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Last year on May 31, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki promised to clear the backlog of 42,000 passport applications within 21 days.

He even pledged that processing time would be strictly 7 days for new applications. Because I hold Prof Kindiki in high regard as a good friend, a Christian, and son of a respected Meru pastor who raised his children well - five of whom became professors - I was extremely keen to check on why his promise was not fulfilled.

Accordingly, I am compelled to highlight the dire situation based on reliable information regarding our passport issuance backlog. The passport backlog has soared to about 600,000 applications, far exceeding last year's numbers. Of course, the government is reportedly planning to acquire a system capable of printing 10,000 passports daily.

However, with a daily influx of 3,000 applications, the net clearance rate will only be 7,000 passports per day, meaning it would take approximately 3 months to clear the existing backlog under optimal conditions.

The crisis has escalated to the point where tax paying Kenyans are forced to queue at Nyayo House from as early as 3am, as the current capacity of immigration officers is limited to processing only 700 applications per day.

The same officers are only able to process some 6,000 applications a day. This situation, compounded by the additional daily applications, has turned a government office into a marketplace and necessitates immediate action from policymakers to relieve the plight of countless Kenyans awaiting their travel documents.

Undoubtedly, these challenges stem from transitioning to new systems and suppliers, as well as individual inefficiencies. In my fair consideration, the real issues are threefold.

First, the immigration department needs proper funding as a top priority. The Treasury needs to prioritise their requests to save the face of the government, just like the immigration department itself must consider their priorities in spending their minimal Appropriation in Aid (A in A) funds.

Secondly, workflow redesign is crucial. Countries like Singapore, South Korea, Germany, and Sweden have efficient passport processing systems where citizens apply online and, in some cases, complete biometrics at local police stations, receiving passports within a week. Given our challenges, especially with police station capacities, the Immigration Department should consider establishing well-distributed outposts for more efficient and predictable services.

Thirdly, efficient management of supplier services is essential. The abrupt exit of the previous vendor, De La Rue, hints at political issues. The procurement of a new supplier, capable of producing 10,000 passports daily, must be expedited without the interference of middlemen, who often disrupt processes for their own gain.

Public discussions labeling immigration officers as the most corrupt are unfounded. Junior officers lack the capacity to stall such vast operations. The problem must lie deeper.

Just like management guru Chris McChesney puts it, anytime you see a habit persisting in majority of employees, majority of the time, then the employees are not the problem. The system is! We've stigmatised immigration officers to the point where they're hesitant to wear their uniforms publicly, despite most being committed to serving Kenyans.

They've proven capable of issuing passports in two days when resources are available. The truth is, we're dealing with a stressed system, stressed immigration officers, and stressed applicants, all of which are burdening the government.

Futher, the recent Gazette notice introducing measures to increase government revenue has only worsened the situation, leading to legal challenges. The primary role of the immigration department should be to ensure our security and facilitate our travel aspirations, not revenue collection. Moreover, it is concerning that only 7 million Kenyans own passports in today's globalised economy.

Ultimately, the CS, PS and Principal Immigration Officer must align their efforts.

Meanwhile, Prof Kindiki and his team could reduce overcrowding at Nyayo House by strictly adhering to scheduled appointments, which would also help curb panic and corruption. Think green, act green!