Kenya has now rolled out electronic pasports. Photo/Nairobi Wire
Kenya joins Burundi to become the second East African state to issue single electronic passport after the first batch of the new generation documents was officially launched on Thursday.
Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i expressed his happiness on the milestone that will enhance identification of persons moving within the East African Community member states.
He said: “Today, I can attest to you that Kenya has fully complied with Standards and Guidelines set by International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) and EAC Chiefs of Immigration on travel document design, processing and issuance”.
Secure
To avert possibility of fraud and passport skimming, the new e-passport database is enhanced with Automated Fingerprint Verification system (AFIS).
The new passports are now available in diplomatic, service and ordinary categories.
On it, there will be a chip that holds the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page, the holder’s name, date of birth, and other biographic information.
Yet, to document comes with a biometric identifier. It bears a digital photograph of the holder as well as digital security features to prevent unauthorised reading or “scanning” of data stored.
Applicants must now visit Nyayo House to provide biometric data in order to receive the e-passport.
However, applications will be made at the Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu offices though processing of the same will be done at Nyayo House before the documents are made available at the stations.
In the new plan, EAC diplomats will carry red passports, officials will have green and ordinary persons will bear sky blue passports.
The new e-Passport is expected to boost free movement of people across the region.