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Kenya to start issuing electronic passports in September

The current generation of passports will be used till 2019

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Issuance of the current generation ends on September 1, and the electronic passport will be given to applicants onwards.

However, holders of the current passports will be able to use them for the next two years after which they will be rendered redundant.

Information from the department says the e-passport will have an electronic chip holding the same information as the old model passport, alongside a biometric identifier, digital photograph of the holder and security features to prevent unauthorised use and forgery.

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Details of the passport will be registered with the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The e-passport will cost the same as the current passport, according to the Immigration department.

The document was initially set to be launched in December 2016 before it was pushed to April and then to September.

"This is an East African initiative; the e-passports will be also launched in other East African countries simultaneously," said Kihalangwa.

He said the department was confident that the September target would be met.

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