Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 21- Kenyans living in the United States who have struggled to secure visa and passport services will be able to do so beginning next month, as the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs plans to provide mobile consular services in the country.
According to Kenya’s Foreign Ministry, the exercise is slated for February and March and targets Kenyans from all across the US.
Kenyans interested in the service were encouraged to fill out a questionnaire, which aims to collect information on their needs and help the Foreign Ministry in planning and allocating resources to that initiative.
“As promised, mobile consular services coming to the Kenyan diaspora in the US,” said Roseline Njogu the Principal Secretary for Diaspora affairs.
The move comes two months after Foreign Affairs Cabinet secretary met the Diaspora community in the US where he assured them that the Ruto government will enact changes that will impact them positively.
Among the changes he mentioned during the November tour are plans to open more consulates in the United States; one for the Midwest, either in Chicago or Minneapolis, another for the South, either in Dallas or Atlanta, and one in the Northwest in Seattle.
Mutua also said that more mobile biometric kits to process passports, Huduma Numbers, and Identity Cards will be made available.
He said that the government is also working on a Diaspora Mpesa service and a banking and loan system for Kenyans to save at home which will also encourage Kenyans and foreigners to invest in Kenya so that they can take advantage of the Public Private Partnership program and low-cost housing ventures and other projects in Kenya.
As for the Kenyans living out of status, Mutua told the excited Kenyans that the government will be requesting the US govt to give amnesty to Kenyans living out of status so that their stay there can be legalized.
They also discussed how to improve services to Kenyans, and serve them efficiently, especially in processing their documents among other issues.
Mutua took the opportunity, to assure them as well as all Kenya’s Mission staff all over the world that he understands some of the challenges facing them and that he is already working on them.
