Garissa immigration office: 16,000 passport bids, 15,800 books issued since 2025
Key points
- Garissa Immigration Office, opened February 2025, has received more than 16,000 passport applications.
- Deputy officer in charge Abdi Sheikh Ali said more than 15,800 passports have been issued.
- SUPKEM Garissa treasurer Hassan Abdi: “After 63 years of independence, Northern Kenya now has immigration services within the region.”
- A dedicated Hajj passport desk is operating; Regional Commissioner John Otieno restated the service-access pledge.
“After 63 years of independence, Northern Kenya now has immigration services within the region.” That line from SUPKEM Garissa board treasurer Hassan Abdi sat on top of a simple count: more than 16,000 passport applications and more than 15,800 books issued since the Garissa Immigration Office opened in February 2025, Eastleigh Voice reported.
Deputy officer in charge Abdi Sheikh Ali gave the figures at a public engagement. The desk is meant to spare families in Garissa and neighbouring northern counties the fare, time and risk of a Nairobi trip for biometrics and collections. Hassan said those journeys had been costly and hard for many households, and he singled out a dedicated Hajj passport window as a practical gain for pilgrims. Regional Commissioner for North Eastern John Otieno repeated the government’s line that public services should sit closer to residents. SUPKEM framed the office as a cost-and-time cut that helps Muslims and other Kenyans using the same counters. The 16,000 applications are themselves the demand signal: the queue was always there; the building was not.
A regional desk still has to clear the backlog
Issued books near 15,800 against 16,000 bids looks tight — the public still needs rejection, pending and delay numbers, not only the success headline. A single office can choke if staffing and booklet stock stay Nairobi-paced.
Kenya news: Kenya News. Verified opening date, application/issue counts and Hassan quote from Eastleigh Voice.
Immigration should publish monthly pending and rejected totals for Garissa. Counties further west and north should say whether they still send residents to Garissa or to Nairobi.
Hajj agents should post the Garissa desk’s cut-off dates so pilgrims do not discover a closed window after buying tickets.
Readers should cross-check any deadline, fee, court date or programme claim against primary gazettes, agency circulars and court records before acting on this report.
Official gazettes, court rulings and agency circulars may update these facts after publication; readers should verify any deadline, fee or court date against primary sources before acting.
Based on Eastleigh Voice reporting of the Garissa office briefing. Application and issuance totals are official claims and may be updated.
