Kenyans have welcomed the launch of a new ePassport, with some claiming however that it has taken 17 years to arrive.Senior officials attended the launch this week, saying that the document will play an important role in identity security."We want to be more serious in how we handle our identification process. Those who cannot maintain integrity in our Immigration Department will have to go," said acting Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiangi during the e-passport launch.Speaking at the launch, the East African Community CS Phyllis Kandie lauded the new move by the Immigration Department, adding that ePassports while help transform and improve the ease of doing business in the East Africa region.Holders of current passports will be allowed to use them for the next two years up to the August 31, 2019 after which they will become invalid.To acquire the e-passport, applicants will be required to apply for a replacement and submit the old ones to Huduma Centres.Information and Communications Technology and Energy CSs Joe Mucheru and Davis Chirchir also attended the launch.
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