Embassies Rejecting Old Passports Despite Deadline Extension

President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered an extension to the deadline for Kenyans to acquire the new e-passports to the 1st of March 2020 from the previous deadline of 1^st September 2019 but this was not in a line with a number of embassies who now turn away Kenyans to go seek the new E-passport.

The relief created by the extension is now resulting to confusion as Kenyans get turned away at a number of embassies to go get the new E-passport which would require them to have at least three weeks before they are processed.

Queues have not eased up but have since elongated in all the other newly opened centers as Nairobi residents seeking the E-passport travel the long distances to Embu, Mombasa, Kisumu, Embu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisii hoping for faster services and shorter queues.

Holders of the old-machine readable passports continue to be given priority in the order that they require their passports for the following reasons of travel to;

• Seek specialized treatment
• Study purposes
• Muslim faithful visiting haji
• Government officials on official duties

The embassies turning away Kenyans contradict a statement released by Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna who said Kenyans could travel using the old passports until 2020.

A notice by Schengen member states to its clients informs them that from 1^st June 2019 they would only be accepting the new East African Community biometric e-passport for their visas.

“According to Article 12 (a) of the Regulation (EC) No.810/2009, commonly known as ‘visa code’, the validity of a travel document shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Schengen member states,” the notice reads.

The Schengen notice acknowledges that an official notification from Kenyan authorities was issued rendering all machine-readable passports invalid as from 1^st September 2019 hence its decision.

The next deadline for the new e-passport is on 1^st March 2020 which will mark the last day for the use of the current passports and Kenyans will not be allowed to travel out of the country without them but that is only dependent on the embassy.