Kenya: Garissa Immigration offices to open after Ramadan

GARISSA, Kenya - President William Ruto will preside over the reopening of the Garissa Immigration Offices after Ramadan, Kenya's Interior and National Administration minister Kithure Kindiki has confirmed, while noting that the office will open up the northeastern region. 

The Garissa Immigration offices were closed a decade ago following increased Al-Shabaab activities,  with Kenya also seeking to block the processing of the crucial document by potential terrorists. There were plans to re-open the offices last year.

However,  the move was halted by officials in Nairobi after it emerged that Al-Shabaab activities had increased in Kenya, with critics associating it with the reopening of the common border with Somalia,  which was immediately closed after complaints.  

Kindiki revealed the progress on Tuesday during a visit to Shanta Abaq Town in Garissa’s Lagdera Constituency, where he inaugurated the new Shanta Abaq Sub-County, opened the Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCC) offices, and appointed the first DCC for the Sub-County.

Prof. Kindiki stated that this move is part of broader initiatives aimed at streamlining the application process for residents and reducing bureaucratic hurdles associated with obtaining crucial documents.

According to him, President Ruto will unveil new guidelines regarding the issuance of passports, IDs, and other citizenship documents to North Eastern residents. These guidelines seek to address previous bureaucratic challenges perceived as unfair to citizens, he said. 

Kindiki emphasized that President Ruto’s administration is committed to fulfilling promises made to citizens. Al-Shabaab activities have significantly reduced in the region following the deployment of the Special Operations Force from the Kenya Defence Forces.  

GAROWE ONLINE