Old passport still in use weeks after phase out
Travellers and airlines are still using the old-generation passport two weeks after deadline for the phasing out lapsed.
The Ministry of Interior had in February last year said that starting January 1 this year, the old dark blue passport would be null and void, and no Kenyan would be able to travel internationally without a valid EAC biometric e-passport.
This is after the ministry extended the deadline to December 31, stating that it would be the last extension and advised Kenyans to acquire the electronic passport to avoid travelling inconveniences.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this is the last extension, and Kenyans are advised to make the necessary arrangements and acquire the electronic passports at the earliest opportunity possible to avoid travelling inconveniences,” he said.
The extension of the deadline was due to disruptions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the ministry and the Immigration Department has not issued an official communication on the matter.
The decision to have the e-passport was arrived at during the 17th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State.
The issuance of the e-passport was to start by January 1, 2017, to phase out the current machine-readable East African and national passports from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018.
When this failed due to lack of preparedness the 35th EAC Council of Ministers directed member states to start issuance of the e-passport by January 31, 2018.
The process has been ongoing for the last two years and so far more than half Kenyans who have passports have migrated to the new electronic ones.
