Cs Geoffrey Ruku Proposes Significant Policy Shift for Passport Processing
In a bold move aimed at improving efficiency, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Geoffrey Ruku has announced plans to shift passport registration services from traditional immigration offices to Huduma Centres across the country.
This new initiative intends to decentralize operations that have long been centralized at busy offices like Nyayo House in Nairobi. According to Ruku, the transition will boost accessibility, cut down processing delays, and decongest overstretched immigration departments.
Services Closer to the People
During an unannounced inspection tour of Huduma Centres in Kiambu and Thika on Tuesday morning, Ruku stated that Kenyans have consistently requested for passport services to be integrated into Huduma Centres. Many citizens reportedly express disappointment over long queues, slow services, and limited access at existing passport offices.
“One of the most asked-for services at Huduma Centres is passport registration. We are working with the Ministry of Immigration to make this happen,” Ruku said.
From Nine to Fifty-Eight Centres
Kenya currently operates only nine passport processing centres — in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Embu, Kisii, Bungoma, and Kericho. The CS believes this number is insufficient given the population’s growing demand.
By leveraging the 58 Huduma Centres scattered throughout the country, the Ministry hopes to drastically reduce travel burdens for citizens while expediting passport applications.
“People shouldn’t need to travel long distances or endure endless queues,” said Ruku. “This is about bringing government services closer to the people.”
He added that while some services such as document verification may still require visits to places like Nyayo House, most passport-related tasks could be handled more conveniently at the local level.
Coordinated Government Efforts
The shift will be undertaken in collaboration with the Immigration Department to ensure that systems are synchronized. The Ministry is also looking into updating digital platforms and backend processes to handle a larger and more distributed network of service delivery points.
Ruku noted that passport registration was just one of many services being reviewed for decentralization. He emphasized that this is part of a broader effort to make public service delivery more citizen-focused.
Fast-Tracking Good Conduct Certificates
In addition to passport reforms, the CS disclosed that his ministry is in talks with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to speed up the processing of certificates of good conduct. Many applicants have complained about the delays caused by outdated requirements that Ruku now labels as “time-bound.”
“We are evaluating which requirements are truly necessary and which are not. Our goal is to streamline the process for Kenyans seeking these documents,” he said.
The government is currently reviewing both processes — passport registration and the issuance of good conduct certificates — with the aim of eliminating bottlenecks and improving turnaround times.
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Cs Geoffrey Ruku Proposes Significant Policy Shift for Passport Processing
