The government has broken its silence and moved to calm public outrage following complaints over the sudden removal of cheaper passport options on the eCitizen platform, which has effectively forced new applicants to pay higher fees for travel documents.
In a statement issued on Friday, February 6, the Directorate of Immigration Services acknowledged concerns raised by Kenyans regarding the unavailability of A and B Series passport booklets on the eCitizen application portal.
The Directorate said it had put in place measures to ensure that all passport applications are processed in a timely manner and without causing inconvenience to applicants, amid growing frustration over delays and increased costs.
The Ministry of Interior also issued a similar statement, confirming that it was aware of the concerns and reassuring Kenyans that efforts were underway to resolve the issue.
Photo collage of a person holding his passport and people lining up at Immigration offices to submit their biometrics.
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Bizna Kenya/ Department of Immigration
“We reaffirm our commitment to facilitate travel in line with our mandate as we make efforts to ensure that all passport series are available,” the Ministry said, while appealing for patience as the matter is addressed.
However, both offices offered no explanation for the unavailability of the cheaper passport options, leaving questions over what triggered the situation.
The response comes after Kenyans noticed that the eCitizen platform now lists the 66-page passport, priced at Ksh12,500, as the only option available for new applications and standard renewals.
A spot check on the portal shows that the previously available 50-page passport, which cost Ksh9,500, has been removed, leaving applicants with no alternative but to select the most expensive booklet.
Earlier, in July 2025, the government also withdrew the 34-page passport, the cheapest option at Ksh7,500, citing operational and supply challenges, though no permanent solution was announced at the time.
With both the 34-page and 50-page options unavailable, the minimum cost of acquiring a new Kenyan passport has effectively risen to Ksh12,500, sparking criticism from members of the public who say the move disproportionately affects low-income earners amid the tough economic situations that the country is grappling with.
While the portal no longer offers the 50-page passport for first-time applicants, it still allows issuance of the booklet in limited cases, such as replacements for lost or mutilated passports.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s passport recently made a comeback on the world stage, climbing five places in the latest update issued in January this year, Henley Passport Index, to rank 68th globally. The rise marks a turnaround after months of decline, when the Kenyan passport fell to 73rd place in October 2025, and holders could only access 70 destinations visa-free or with a visa on arrival.
According to the new 2026 ranking, Kenyan passport holders can now travel to 69 destinations without a visa in advance, signaling a modest but meaningful recovery in global mobility after an extended period of decline.
The Henley Passport Index uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the world’s largest and most comprehensive travel database, to compare 199 passports across 227 destinations.
A photo of the Kenyan Passport
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