Residents of Mombasa County will now be able to receive their passports within three to seven days after application, County Commissioner Mohammed Nur Hassan has announced, in a move aimed at improving access to government services and unlocking job opportunities abroad.
Speaking to Baraka FM, CC Nur said the government has streamlined passport processing to shorten waiting time.
“With complete documentation, you can now get your passport within three to seven days. If you face any challenges, my office is open, we will address delays and take action against any officer who frustrates applicants,” he said.
The commissioner at the same time intensified calls for residents to acquire national identification cards, describing the document as essential for accessing key services including employment, tax registration and government programmes.
“Nothing can be done without a national ID. It is the entry point to jobs, accessing services like SHA, and even registering with KRA,” he said.
Hassan announced that a mass registration exercise under the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) will be launched from April 7, utilising digital live capture machines to speed up processing.
“Once your details are captured, the information is transmitted instantly to Nairobi, meaning you can receive your ID within two to three days,” he added.
According to county data, 34,317 IDs were registered in the 2024/2025 period, with a target of 48,840 set for 2025/2026. However, 23,063 IDs remain uncollected.
He noted that local administrators, including chiefs, have been tasked with tracing owners of the uncollected IDs to ensure they are delivered.
The commissioner further linked the ongoing ID registration drive to voter registration being conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, urging residents, especially the youth, to take up their civic responsibility.
“Once you get your ID, ensure you register as a voter and exercise your democratic right,” he said.
Hassan also highlighted Mombasa’s leading position in registration for the Social Health Authority (SHA), encouraging more residents to enrol and benefit from government programmes.
“Our goal is to ensure every resident has an ID, those who want passports can get them easily, and all eligible citizens are registered to vote,” he added.