Hundreds of Kenyans have been queuing up to acquire new passports before the government invalidates all non-biometric ones from 31 August.
Influential twitter account Kenya west has posted pictures of the queues:
Kenya West©@KinyanBoy
This not a voting queue bit Kenyans lining up for passport application at Nyayo House in Nairobi at 3am.
I’ve been telling Kenyans here that this is unnecessary, going to queue at 3am & meet 500 others ahead of you. Simply visit other empty branches in Kenya. ???? @Onjerika
The updated travel documents were rolled out in 2017 and hold data on finger prints, photos and signatures.
Kenya's government says they will help to improve security and the efficiency of monitoring movement in and out of the country.
However social media users have called for improvements to the application process after being left queuing up for hours outside of immigration centres.
Tweeters have been coming up with their own suggestions:
Makena Onjerika@Onjerika
Replying to @ahmed_lag @KinyanBoy
Nothing to do with appetite. @ImmigrationDept can not handle more than 400 applicants a day
fidelisfidel™@fidelmmoja
Just thinking @ImmigrationDept should have a system that generates an SMS asking you to visit on a particular day and time, immediately after submitting the forms on ecitizen. Failure to do so you have to book a new appointment at a fee. Would help tame corruption & confusion
jeparlefrançaise.@madameunetelle1
Replying to @fidelmmoja and 4 others
Like NTSA
George Makori@TheRealMakori
Let them outsource that work to VFS.... Efficiency is needed.... Have like 4 or 5 branches in Nrb.... East... West... North... South of Nrb.... If you think/feel you want your PP in a rush... Pay extra for express service.... ??????????????????????????????