at times i envy people living in Nairobi i mean it's cheap when it comes to commuting uku narok it's kinda expensive na ujue saizo umechill na ndama apo kwa boot ya probox๐i mean Nairobi for the same distance and fare naeza pelekwa na uber
The Government has quietly withdrawn the 50-page passport option from the eCitizen platform, leaving the 66-page passportโpriced at KSh 12,500โas the only standard passport available for new applicants.
This move follows an earlier decision made in July last year, when the 34-page passport was revoked. With the removal of the 50-page option, Kenyans have now lost all affordable passport categories, effectively setting KSh 12,500 as the minimum entry cost to international mobility.
At present, the 50-page passport is only issued under limited replacement circumstances, specifically:
1. Mutilated passports (intentionally damaged), and
2. Lost passports.
It is not available for first-time applicants or ordinary renewals.
This policy shift has serious economic and social implications:
Excludes low-income Kenyans from accessing passports, turning international travel into a privilege rather than a right.
Hurts job seekers, especially youth and casual workers seeking opportunities abroad in construction, domestic work, caregiving, and maritime sectors.
Raises operational costs for businesses, NGOs, and institutions that sponsor staff for regional and international travel.
Contradicts the governmentโs own export-of-labour and diaspora remittance agenda, which relies on affordable access to travel documents.
Encourages inequality, as frequent travellers and elites benefit from a premium passport while ordinary citizens are priced out.
There is no public justification for eliminating lower-cost passport options. The absence of transparency raises serious concerns about policy intent, affordability, and access to public services.
The Government must:
Immediately reinstate the 34-page and 50-page passport categories.
Provide a clear policy explanation for their removal.
Protect access to passports as a public service, not a luxury product.
Bottom line: By eliminating affordable passport options, the state has effectively locked out millions of Kenyans from global mobility. This decision should be reversed immediately, and all passport categories restored to ensure fairness, inclusion, and economic participation.