The Principal Secretary of the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Julius Bittok announced Friday that the government is establishing an immigration office in Kericho Town.
The office, to be located at Ardhi House, according to the PS, is aimed at taking services closer to the people, starting January 1, 2024.
“Beginning next year, South Rift residents will no longer have to travel long distances to obtain passports and related travel documents,” the PS said in Kericho
Bittok noted that the new station will most significantly ease pressure on Kisumu and Eldoret regional offices and save applicants on time and travel costs.
Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who accompanied the PS, lauded the planned opening of the immigration office in Kericho saying it will aid local residents who have plans to travel out of the country.
The PS, also in the company of Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat visited the Civil Registration Services desk at the Huduma Centre that processes around 60 passports daily.
Bittok disclosed that the backlog on the issuance of passports that was witnessed a few months ago was a result of many companies printing passport booklets closing down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the government has ordered 600,000 copies of passport booklets which will be delivered in the next few weeks, which will make issuance of passports even quicker.
