Alarm As Kenya Faces ID, Passport Shortage Over Ksh475 Million Debt
Kenyans could soon face a severe shortage of critical government-issued documents following alarming revelations about the state of the Government Printer.
A parliamentary committee has been told that the Government Printer is grappling with mounting debts and inadequate budgetary allocations.
This raises concerns about its ability to continue operations.
Officials from the Government Printer warned that the situation could lead to a complete operational breakdown if not urgently addressed.
They spoke while appearing before the National Assembly Special Funds Accounts Committee on Tuesday, March 31.
The officials revealed that the agency is struggling with outdated machinery and has formally requested funding to procure modern printing equipment to boost efficiency.
The committee, chaired by Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed, had summoned the Government Printer to respond to audit queries stemming from financial statements for the 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 financial years.
Government Printer CEO Abdi Hassan told lawmakers that while the institution has skilled personnel, its capacity is crippled by a lack of modern equipment and financial constraints.
He noted that the government continues to outsource sensitive printing services, such as examination papers and ballot papers, yet the same tasks could be handled locally if the printer were adequately equipped.
Hassan described the Government Printer as a critical institution responsible for producing essential documents, including Acts, Bills, gazette notices, title deeds, logbooks, and birth certificates.
He warned that failure to modernise the facility and settle outstanding debts could result in the collapse of a key state function, with far-reaching consequences.
In response, the committee chair clarified that the audit committee does not have the mandate to allocate funds but pledged to support the institution through parliamentary processes.
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She (Fatuma Mohammed) indicated that the committee would table a motion seeking a statement on institutions owing the Government Printer money, in a bid to amplify its funding concerns.
Audit findings presented to the committee revealed that the agency owes Ksh475.4 million in long-outstanding debts accumulated between 2017 and 2022, with uncertain recovery prospects.
The report further listed key government institutions, including the IEBC, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), as among those responsible for the pending bills.
Alarm As Kenya Faces ID, Passport Shortage Over Ksh475 Million Debt
