The Kenyan immigration department has announced that it will start issuing new Passports to Kenyans from 1st September 2017. To get the New Passport, Kenyans will be required to apply for a replacement passport and then return their current passport.
The new passport is an ePassport and will have an electronic chip holding the same information as the old model passport, alongside a biometric identifier, digital photograph of the holder and security features to prevent unauthorized use and forgery. Details of the ePassport will be registered with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The ePassport will cost the same as the current passport according to the Immigration Department.
The new passport was announced last year and was initially meant to be launched in December and an April 2017 was also announced but has since been moved. It is an East African initiative and ePassports will also be rolled out to the other EA countries simultaneously.