Ruto Reopens Garissa Immigration Office Closed During Uhuru’s Tenure
President William Ruto officially reopened the Garissa Immigration Office on Thursday, a facility that had remained closed since 2014 under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
The office was initially shut down due to heightened security concerns following a wave of terrorist attacks in the region and across Kenya.
At the time, then-Immigration Chief Maj-Gen (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa ordered its closure as part of efforts to enhance national security.
During the reopening ceremony, President Ruto emphasized that the decision to restore operations at the Garissa Immigration Office was aimed at bringing essential government services closer to residents of the region.
He noted that people in Garissa and neighboring counties had been forced to travel long distances to Nairobi to access immigration services, which was both costly and time-consuming.
Additionally, the Head of State issued thousands of title deeds to local residents, describing it as the largest land document distribution ever carried out by any government in Kenya’s history.
“I have officially reopened the Garissa Immigration Office and issued more than 10,000 title deeds to residents—the highest number ever distributed since our country gained independence,” Ruto stated.
He further assured the residents that with the reopening of the office, individuals from Garissa and the surrounding counties would no longer have to endure the burden of traveling to Nairobi for passport processing.
The facility is expected to serve not only Garissa County but also Mandera, Wajir, and parts of Tana River, Lamu, Kitui, and Isiolo.
The closure of regional immigration offices in Kenya dates back to the early 2000s, following recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). After the 9/11 attacks in the United States, ICAO proposed measures to centralize the printing of passports and other travel documents to prevent forgery and enhance security. Consequently, the Kenyan government shut down several passport printing centers outside Nairobi.
However, with advancements in technology and the introduction of the e-Passport Management System, the government later reversed this decision, gradually reopening regional passport processing offices.
During his tour of the northeastern region, President Ruto also made another key announcement. On Wednesday, he signed an executive order stopping the compulsory vetting of ID applicants from the region.
While addressing residents in Mandera on Tuesday, February 4, Ruto criticized the vetting process, calling it discriminatory.
He explained that it unfairly targeted specific Kenyan communities, particularly those from six counties—Tana River, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, and Marsabit.
He emphasized that all Kenyans deserve equal treatment when applying for national identification documents.
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