Gachagua Claims eCitizen Funds Were Diverted, Blames Passport Book Shortage on Misuse of Revenue
Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that the prolonged shortage of passport books in Kenya is a result of the diversion of revenue collected through the government’s eCitizen platform, claims that have not been independently verified.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County on Wednesday, August 6, while hosting a delegation from Subukia Constituency in Nakuru County, Gachagua claimed he had received information from officials within the Department of Immigration Services explaining why thousands of Kenyans have been unable to obtain passports despite applying months ago.
According to the former Deputy President, the country has experienced an acute shortage of passport books for the past four months, leaving applicants stranded as processing delays continue to mount.
“I received intelligence from the Immigration Department offices that for four months they have not been able to print new passports due to an extreme shortage of passport books,” Gachagua claimed.
He further alleged that the shortage was not caused by logistical challenges but by the diversion of funds originally intended to procure passport books.
According to Gachagua, money generated through the eCitizen platform and earmarked for immigration services had allegedly been redirected to finance other government activities, including the recently concluded Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
“They told me there is no money to print a single passport book because the money that comes in through eCitizen was diverted to other things such as the Ol Kalou by-election,” he alleged.
The DCP leader also turned his criticism toward Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, alleging that part of the eCitizen revenue had been used to finance the Cabinet Secretary’s extensive helicopter tours across the Rift Valley.
Gachagua claimed Murkomen’s frequent visits to counties including Kericho, Bomet, West Pokot and his home county of Elgeyo Marakwet were politically motivated as he seeks to position himself as the region’s leading political figure ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Without presenting evidence to support the claims, Gachagua challenged journalists to visit the Department of Immigration offices at Nyayo House to verify what he described as the ongoing passport crisis.
He further alleged that the limited number of passport books still available had been reserved for members of a particular community as part of preparations for the 2027 elections, another claim for which he did not provide evidence.
Growing Frustration Over Passport Delays
Gachagua’s remarks come against the backdrop of increasing public frustration over delays in passport processing.
For months, applicants have taken to social media to complain that despite completing applications and payments through the eCitizen platform, many have waited several months without receiving their travel documents.
Some applicants have also reported difficulty obtaining the larger 50-page and 66-page passports, saying immigration offices have primarily been issuing the standard 34-page booklet, a situation that has particularly affected frequent travellers, businesspeople and Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
Neither the Department of Immigration Services nor the Ministry of Interior had publicly responded to Gachagua’s allegations at the time of publication.
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