Kenyan Mission to Canada makes major announcement on E-Passport Service as it Consults with Kenyan Diaspora Leaders
Kenyan Mission to Canada met Kenyan Diaspora in Canada on May 8, 2021 at a well attended community engagement forum organized by Kenyan Canadian Association. The meeting brought together leaders from over 75 organizations and groups across Canada including Community Organizations, Not-for-profit Organizations, Religious Organizations, Self-help groups, Businesses as well as Cultural & Social Groups.
The Kenya High Commission in Ottawa team was led by Deputy Head of Mission Amb. Stephen M. Lorete. He was accompanied by Minister Counsellor Stanley Cheruiyot, Immigration Attache Monica Kiruja and First Counsellor Stella Musembi. The Kenyan Consulate in Toronto was represented by Honorary Consul Sunir Chandaria. Amb. Lorete informed the participants that the Mission has a New High Commissioner designate H.E. Amb. Immaculate Wambua who recently arrived from Kenya and would soon take office as the Head of Mission.
The Mission team made a major announcement regarding issuance of Kenyan e-passports whereby Kenyans in Canada will soon be able to apply and receive their e-passports in Canada and will not have to travel to Washington DC in USA. The entire application process would take approximately two months. The Immigration Attache outlined at length an array of services available for Kenyans in Canada. She pointed out that nearly all services provided by the mission are very well elaborated on the mission’s website at www.kenyahighcommission.ca.
She explained that the old generation passports are still in valid and in use but only those with very old version of IDs that were issue before 1980s that would need to replace them. She said that the mission will be providing other services including Visa processing services; Emergency certificate for Kenyan nationals where applicants are required to have a ticket and cover letter to explain need for emergency travel; Kenyan citizenship application services for those that would like to declare dual nationality or regain Kenyan citizenship; Citizenship renunciation; Police clearance; Duplicate birth certificates to replace lost or birth certificates for Kenyan children born in Canada; Kenyan driver licence authentication; Legalization of Kenyan documents such as school certificates, passports & birth certificate; Assisting Kenyans in distress with access to information; Facilitation of travel by air to Kenya with pets; and Facilitation of travel to Kenya for research purposes.
The First Counsellor noted that for services requiring an original set of fingerprints, like the police clearance document, individuals can use RCMP accredited agencies in Canada as RCMP no longer provides these services.
The Deputy Head of Mission urged all Kenyan community organization and groups across Canada to register with Kenyan Canadian Association for ease of information dissemination and collaboration. He noted a case in point as the information that had been forwarded through KCA regarding the Diaspora Remittances Survey by Central Bank of Kenya and the upcoming meeting with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) which will provide information to Kenyans in Canada on how to ensure that their investments in Kenya are secured and in line with government regulations.
He urged Kenyans to reach out to the mission staff with any questions or concerns or even idea through Kenyan High Commission via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He explained that there are two Kenyan consulates in Canada. One in Toronto, Ontario led by Sunir Chandaria and the other Vancouver, British Columbia led by George Imbenzi.
The Honorary Consul in Toronto in his remarks said that the Kenyan Consulate in Toronto works closely with the Mission in Ottawa to provide services to Kenyans and also to promote trade between Kenya and Canada. The Consulate has also been supporting local Kenyan initiatives including collaboration with Kenyan Canadian Association in its work within the Greater Toronto Area.
