Economy

Immigration revenue rises Sh3.5 billion

kihalangwa

Gordon Kihalangwa, PS nominee for Immigration. file photo | nmg

The Immigration Department increased revenue collection by Sh3.5 billion following the automation of immigration services.

Gordon Kihalangwa, PS nominee for Immigration, told Parliament that the revenue from the automation of passports and visa services had increased from Sh7 billion in 2015 to Sh10.5 billion.

He told the National Assembly Committee on Security chaired by Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange that Kenyans seeking passports and visa services can now apply and pay through the e-citizen platform.

“With e-passports, we’re going to connect Garissa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Embu in the coming financial year. We don’t print passports in Kisumu or Mombasa, It is done in one place in Nairobi and taken there by courier services,” Mr Kihalangwa said during his vetting on Wednesday.

READ: Kenya to rollout e-passport next month

He said the e-passport stated last September after a Sh485 million systems upgrade unlike Tanzania, which rolled out a Sh5 billion system last week. He said 93 e-passports have since been issued the roll-out.

“I will deliver a comprehensive registration of persons database where each person will have a unique identification number.”