The Commission on Administrative Justice wants an audit to be carried out on the alleged injustice in the issuance of passports by the Department of Immigration.

The Commission submitted a report to the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations detailing complaints made by citizens on social media against the Department of Immigration.

The Commission undertook an in depth investigation on the matter following reports by Kenyans of being overcharged for passports by the Department.

The investigations team visited the Immigration offices and the Government Digital Payment Unit under the National Treasury, interviewed a number of officers as well as complainants and obtained several documents relevant to the matter.

The Commission in its report noted to have received numerous complaints from members of the public on social media against the Department of Immigration and the e-citizen platform alleging that they had been issued passports having fewer pages than the ones they had paid for.

A section of Kenyans were forced to pay the amount of money meant for higher series of passports but received lower series of the passports.

“It was alleged that some citizens were compelled to pay Ksh. 6,050 for ‘B’ series passport (50 pages) as it was the only option provided to them while making their online applications only for them to be issued with ‘A’ series passports (34-pages) whose cost is Ksh. 4550, thereby losing KSh. 1,500 to the government without a clear channel of recourse,” submitted the CAJ.

“Some of the complainants alleged that upon raising the issue with the Department of Immigration, the explanation offered for the anomaly was an alleged system error but no efforts were made by the Department to rectify the anomaly or reimburse the citizens for the cost difference between ‘A’ and ‘B’ series passport,” added the Commission.

In its recommendation, the committee called on the Principal Secretary, State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services to initiate an audit of the NADRA system for the period of 2021-2023 in order to identify all passport applicants whose excess payments have not been refunded.

The Commission also wants the PS, State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services to ensure that the 9 complainants in the case and all the other applicants whose excess payments have not been refunded are promptly refunded their monies.

The Commission has given 6 months as a period under which steps should be taken.

The commission`s delegation led by Vice Chairperson Washington Sati appealed to the Senate Committee to intervene and push for justice for Kenyans who lost their money.

Members of the committee assured the Commission of its support indicating that it will work closely with it to help address issues raised.

Members in attendance were Baringo Senator William Cheptumo (Chairperson), Sen. Karen Nyamu (Vice Chairperson), Garissa County Senator Abdul Haji, Isiolo County Senator Fatuma Dullo, West Pokot County Senator Julius Murgor and Kajiado County Senator Lenke Seki.