Govt launches e-passport after 17-year wait

Govt launches e-passport after 17-year wait

Kenyan will  be required to swap their passports for an electronic one from Friday after the government launched the printing of e-passport following a 17-year journey.

The Immigration Department said the e-passport will feature a micro-chip that will contain the bio-data of holders and as well as enhanced security features.

“We want to be more serious in how we handle our identification process. Those who cannot maintain integrity in our Immigration Department will have to go,” warned acting Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiangi during the e-passport launch.

Speaking at the launch, the East African Community CS Phyllis Kandie lauded the new move by the Immigration Department, adding that e-passports while help transform and improve the ease of doing business in the East Africa region.

Holders of current passports will be allowed to use them for the next two years up to the August 31,  2019 after which they will become invalid.

To acquire the e-passport, applicants will be required to apply for a replacement and submit the old ones to Huduma Centres.

Information and Communications Technology and Energy CSs Joe Mucheru and Davis Chirchir also attended the launch.

Tags:

e-citizen epassport digital passports Huduma Centers the Immigration Department

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