Passport services to be offered at Huduma Centres under new plan
Currently, passport issuance is limited to a few Immigration offices, leading to congestion.
Kenyans could soon apply for and receive passports more conveniently if a new proposal to decentralize the service to Huduma Centres is approved.
Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku announced plans to deploy immigration officers to select Huduma Centres to ease the pressure on existing Immigration offices.
The move aims to address growing concerns about long delays and frustrations experienced by Kenyans seeking passports.
Ruku said the proposal is driven by the rising demand for passports, mainly due to many Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad.
"Immigration is one of the services most Kenyans request at Huduma Centres. We shall see how we can synchronize this to ensure passport registration can also be processed from Huduma Centres," Ruku said.
Currently, passport issuance is limited to a few Immigration offices, leading to congestion and long waiting times.
By spreading services across Huduma Centres, the government hopes to speed up the process and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
Besides addressing passport delays, Ruku also pledged to accelerate the processing of certificates of good conduct.
He noted that slow processing had cost many young people crucial opportunities, adding that his ministry would work closely with relevant agencies to ensure the certificates are issued faster.
The Cabinet Secretary did not shy away from warning civil servants who are lazy and inefficient.
He made it clear that any public servant found failing in their duties would face disciplinary action under the law.
Ruku emphasized the importance of maintaining a high standard of service and adhering to the code of conduct for public officers.
He added that the Ministry would continue partnering with other government departments to roll out reforms that are practical, timely, and centered on the needs of citizens.
These efforts, he said, aim to transform how government services are delivered across the country.
The Huduma Kenya Service Delivery Programme (HKSDP), a flagship project under Kenya Vision 2030, was established on April 4, 2014.
Its goal is to transform public service delivery by offering citizen-centred services through One-Stop-Shop platforms.
Managed by the Huduma Kenya Secretariat under the State Department for Public Service, the Programme oversees the day-to-day operations of Huduma Centres and works to ensure they deliver efficient services.
Huduma Kenya currently manages four service delivery channels, including 58 Huduma Centres spread across all 47 counties.
The proposed changes are expected to bring critical services closer to the people, making the government more accessible and improving service delivery.
If successful, Kenyans will no longer have to travel long distances or endure long waits to access essential documents like passports and certificates of good conduct.