West Pokot residents have been urged to acquire passports in advance to enable them to take advantage of employment, business and other opportunities outside the country without delays.

Boaz Moilem from the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services said passports should be treated as essential documents rather than acquired only when one is preparing to travel abroad.

Moilem said waiting until the last minute to apply for a passport could expose applicants to delays caused by congestion and potentially make them miss opportunities.

“Each one should yearn to have a passport so that they can use it at any opportune time rather than waiting for the last-minute rush,” he said.

He was speaking during the fourth day of Diaspora Mashinani engagements in West Pokot County, where the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA), in collaboration with National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), sensitised students and members of the public on safe and legal migration pathways.

Moilem also cautioned residents against using unofficial routes to cross international borders, saying illegal migration could make it difficult for Kenyans to access assistance when they encounter problems abroad.

He urged residents travelling to neighbouring Uganda to use designated border points, including Suam, Lwakhakha, Malaba and Busia, where the necessary travel documentation can be processed.

He further encouraged residents to use the government’s online platform when applying for passports, saying the system makes the process more convenient.

The sensitisation forums, led by Jennifer Wanami from the Skills and Expertise Division, were held in various tertiary institutions and targeted young people seeking employment and business opportunities abroad.

The SDDA team also outlined its mandate, including protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of Kenyans overseas, facilitating dialogue with Kenyans abroad, supporting diaspora employment and enterprise development, and promoting investment, remittances, savings and technology transfer.

Participants were also sensitised on the government’s Kazi Majuu programme and the role of the Diaspora Placement Agency (DPA), a semi-autonomous government agency under the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.

Wanami said the DPA provides an official mechanism for linking skilled and semi-skilled Kenyans to employment opportunities abroad through safe and regular channels.

The forums also sought to raise awareness on Kazi Majuu and promote safe, regular and orderly labour mobility while helping residents make informed decisions when seeking employment outside the country.

 by Richard Muhambe