Principal Secretary

Principal Secretary Dr. Belio R. Kipsang today appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration to respond to questions on the legal and administrative processes governing the acquisition of Kenyan citizenship and the issuance of identification documents. The Principal Secretary assured the Committee that these processes are firmly anchored in the Constitution of Kenya, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, and the relevant regulations. He noted that the State Department works closely with the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to undertake the necessary security checks and ensure that passports and other documents are issued only to eligible persons in accordance with the law. Dr. Kipsang further highlighted that the removal of vetting barriers has enabled eligible residents to acquire national identity cards more easily. He reaffirmed the State Department’s readiness to engage with the Committee, address emerging concerns and provide any additional information required. He was accompanied by the Director General for Immigration Services, Ms. Evelyn Cheluget, the Director General for eCitizen Services Amb. Isaac Ochieng , the Acting Secretary for Administration Mr. Serser Chelulei, and other senior officials from the State Department.

Today, Principal Secretary Dr. Belio R. Kipsang and Ag. Commissioner Directorate of Refugee Services Ms. Mercy Mwasaru joined H.E. Kang Hyung-shik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, and Ms. Betty Ka, World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director, at the WFP Warehouse in Mombasa for the handover of over 10,000 metric tonnes of rice valued at approximately USD 9.53 million to support refugees hosted in Dadaab and Kakuma. The donation reaffirms the enduring partnership between Kenya, the Republic of Korea and the World Food Programme, and underscores shared commitments to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance while advancing sustainable refugee solutions through the Shirika Plan. The Government of Kenya expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Korea and the World Food Programme for their continued partnership and unwavering support to refugees and host communities in Kenya.

PS, Immigration and Citizen Services, Dr. Belio Kipsang @PS_SDICS , today appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration, where he outlined key reforms aimed at enhancing access to identity and travel documents. Dr. Kipsang highlighted significant progress in service delivery through technology-driven initiatives, including the deployment of over 600 live capture units, which have reduced ID card production timelines to seven days, with more than 1.5 million IDs produced in the last five months. He also announced a nationwide mobile registration exercise targeting over 1.1 million students who have attained the age of 18 years, alongside ongoing sensitization on the revised National Registration Guidelines to ensure inclusive access to registration services. The PS further apprised the Committee on Kenya's full compliance with regional agreements on the East African Biometric e-Passport, noting that passport processing times have been reduced to between 3 and 7 days, while regional initiatives such as the Interstate Pass continue to facilitate seamless cross-border movement within the East African Community. The State Department remains committed to leveraging technology, strengthening regional integration, and ensuring every eligible Kenyan has access to citizenship and travel documents. – at Nairobi, Kenya