So are they or are they not issuing epassport? Now most of us have to rely on hearsay, since hio embassy hakuna mtu huchukua simu wala kujibu emails. If one is fortunate enough to get through, you will wish you hadn’t, trust me.
Also, what is the official deadline? Mara nasikia ni 2019 mara 2020?
Idiots here have been defending their “Watu Wetu” since I raised this issue.
Thanks for proving I’m not the only one in the dark. My documents are still held up in there since February.
The same lame old story yet nothing has changed here:
Published on: June 13, 2019, 16:17 (EAT)
Kenyans with the old generation passports have until September this year to change to the e-passports.
Speaking at the official launch of the Immigration offices in Nakuru, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i said the government has added three more stations that will process more applications.
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“Following the directive given by President Uhuru Kenyatta; Embu, Eldoret, Kisii and six others in the diaspora will ease congestion and long queues at Nyayo House in Nairobi,” he said.
According to the CS, only 1 million Kenyans have obtained the new generation passports since its inception in September 2017.
It has an electronic chip, biometric identifier, a digital photograph of the passport holder and several other security features to prevent unauthorized use and forgery.
Requirements for replacing the old generation passports include:
1.Birth certificate copy
2.Original ID and copy
3.Recommenders ID copy
4.Original and Copies of the last two pages of the current passport
5. Dully filled downloaded and printed application form.
6. 3invoices
7. 3 passports sized photos
Kenyans can apply or replace their old model passports through the e-citizen platform.
So DP Ruto was just paying lip service. Washington hakuendeki. Some of us will be left with no option but to travel back.
Check this out:
A 32-year-old Nigerian man identified as Ewohime Apkovweta, has reportedly destroyed numerous cars at the Nigeria High Commission in London. According to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission on Twitter (@nidcom_gov) the young man was at the embassy at 2pm to collect his passport and he was told passport collection ended by 1 pm. He however insisted on collecting his passport and was told to present his collection slip.
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Apkovweta was unable to produce it and he left dissatisfied. However, he returned to the embassy and destroyed several cars some of which belonged to the mission and others to guests at a nearby hotel.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the United States Embassy in Nigeria has reacted to claims that it enjoys denying visas to intending travelers. The embassy has said that contrary to rumored speculations, it does not enjoy denying visas to applicants. Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1243944-man-reportedly-destroys-properties-nigerian-embassy-london-delays-passport.html?fbclid=IwAR1lw5j-IMNRsEtqYL8xb6VWkv40zFaLzE4d-j1yKYDdbm2f6DU2VlOTFZc
Its like wanapenda ku frustrate watu wao badala ya kuwasaidia. I hate to imagine what would happen if one needs their assistance in an emergency.
Now they are changing tactics. As of now, no one can confirm whether Washington Embassy issues E-Passports at all:
The Immigration Department has said it will not issue passports to Kenyans with no plans to travel.
PS Gordon Kihalangwa on Monday said it is unfortunate many Kenyans who are flocking to application centers have no plans to travel, but are applying for fun.
He said the department has resolved to give priority to those seeking renewal of the machine-readable passports ahead of the September 1 deadline.
Last week, the department was forced to clarify on the September 1 deadline.
It said contrary to the narrative, the E-passport will continue being issued even past the deadline.
The government started the issuance of the E-passport in September 2017 and gave a two-year period for those who have the machine-readable (old) passports to renew them, after which they will become invalid.
Kwanza nasikia guys were stranded at the DC embassy last week. Some being told to return after a week! Imagine wale wametoka state zingine.
Finally some old rudimentary news on e-passport from Jamu I missed:
Kenyans living in the United States have been thronging the Kenyan embassy in Washington, DC in the last few days in a rush to register for Huduma Namba ahead of Thursday deadline.
To register, one is required to first complete an online form, download it, and then appear in person for biometrics capture at their closest Kenyan embassy or consulate.
The process has been ongoing at the embassy in Washington, DC and it’s satellite consulates in Los Angeles, California and New York.
A number of Kenyans living in the US have severally complained of the inconveniences of traveling long distances to Washington, DC for the registration process, long lines and hours of waiting at the embassy and general disorganization by embassy staff.
The situation is compounded by the fact that most of those who are turning up for the Huduma Namba is also processing their digital passports.
The deadline for the e-passports is September 1, 2019.
The application process for an e-passport also requires the applicant to visit the embassy in person for biometrics capture. o_O
“It’s true most people who are coming to get Huduma Namba also want to process their new passports while they are here and we understand why because most of them have traveled from as far as Chicago. In fact, most of them seem to be more interested in the passport than the Huduma Namba,” an official at the embassy, who sought anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the press, said.
Dr Mukundi, who had come along with his wife and two-year-old son, watched as his son and numerous other kids and babies cried for hours in the scorching heat. He said everyone was required to queue on a single line that snaked around the street for all types of services including those requiring visas.
Faith Kavoi, a resident of New Jersey, said she traveled to Washington, DC last Friday only to be told her application for an e-passport had been rejected by the system and was asked to return to the Embassy on Monday. When she returned, she still could not complete the process and had to go back to the Embassy the following day.
But even with the apparent long lines during these last days, its estimated that majority of Kenyans living in the US will miss out on the Huduma Namba due to a general sense apathy.
“Many people are not enthusiastic about acquiring this Huduma Namba simply because the government did not make a compelling case for it. Many people, I included still believe this is just another scheme by some in government to fleece the exchequer,” said Johnstone Mwangi, a Kenyan resident of Dover, Delaware.
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