The Secretariat, through the CEO, met with the Director of Immigration, Ms. Jane Waikenda, under the auspice of KEPSA in order to discuss the immigration policies, at a meeting held on Thursday, 16^th January 2014. 

Some of the issues discussed were:

• Clarification on Delays: in processing work permits, special passes and Foreigner Registration Cards through the Department. The Director said her office is working on reducing the backlog by 16^th Feb which was created as a result of the ongoing audit. Thereafter, the new work permits application will take two months and renewals one month.
• Delays in addressing appeals;
• Review of the under study system
• Other issues raised included; applications for ‘Class G’ (for investors) work permits, status of permanent residency and citizenship applications, issue of acquiring the special pass which is valid for three months but takes more than one month to process and expires before the work/entry permit is fully processed, processing an Alien card taking more than six months, among others. 
  

The Director of Immigration said they have set up a special working committee that will be meeting twice a week to address the issues raised by members. She welcomed the idea of having someone from the private sector sit in the committee.