I'm also in the same situation with the passport applications. It's been atleast a month and when you inquire what's going on you are told that your passport application is far behind in the queue.
Now when I finally went there I'm being asked for a facilitation fee of 10,000 KES to move things faster. And basically it's like "You know how things work in Kenya ..."
As much as we are told that Dr Matiang'i is a performer, I really miss the days of Kajwang' at immigration where you would get your passport in a couple of days.
The Immigration Officers have such a big sense of entitlement on citizens money that they are deliberately delaying a lot of passports so that desperate Kenyans can pay them off. There's no much difference between kupigwa ngeta and this kind of theft.
This kind of corruption in public services creates a huge negative spiral. If I as a tax paying citizen have to endure this kind of theft and inefficiency at government services, what's my incentive to pay taxes? Also how safe is the country when the people with the responsibility of registering citizens are so corrupt that they will scam ordinary citizens? Will they not register terrorists and such as long as they get their 10,000 KES here.
That immigration department is in need of a major clean up. Whereas in the past during Kajwang's days you left feeling a strong sense of hope and patriotism, now you are left in desperation wondering where our country is headed. Dr. Matiang'i needs to clean up this mess and give Kenyans a service level agreement which is something like a passport should not take more than a week to be issued once applied for.
Inefficiency breeds corruption. If a passport is taking more than a week to be issued, it opens the doors for corrupt officers to steal from Kenyans what should be their right as citizens to good service.

Since Year 2005 until year 2018, I used to put on Kenya (Maasai) wrist band because it kept me Kenyan all the time including when I was out of our borders.
After my experience @ Nyayo house mid last year, I took off the wrist band and I said never to wear it up until Dr. Matiangi and his immigration cohorts stop ignoring the plight of Kenyans seeking for new or renewal of old passport.

Hon. Koigi Wa Wamwere never shaved for decades in protest. I won't be patriotic- in protest.

To be honest, I have not experienced any issue with passport renewals; this is not to downplay the experience of other people who didn't have a pleasant experience.

When I went there last month, i thought they were doing a good job; to start earl, serve people, quickly and to try and enforce the appointment system ....

If you want to know how badly the immigration department is doing....the number that they have listed on e-citizen for visa enquiries belongs to some jamaa about town. A friend has been trying to get the status of his single entry visa with no help since the person picking seems to be on some street. I called that number today and was amazed, the guy told me he's been getting calls from people asking him about visa and he cant understand what the F*CK is going on. We are so messed up.

Strange, very strange for it to delay that much.

I applied for mine without any drama (Replacing old passport) and within 2 weeks it was ready for collection.

Drama and video. I booked an appointment to collect but when i went to collect, it couldn't be found. I spent the whole damn day there having them search (11am-5pm) a nd was told to come another day to check why they cant find it. I wasn't alone on this but another 20 or so people's passports that day couldn't be found despite being texted its ready and then booking appointment for collection.

Its like these guys delay, hind or do whatever they have to do to ensure that some applicants seek 'internal' help at a fee

I saw on some alert that a desk to address these issues has been set up on the ground floor. I will pay them a visit but can travel on old one since its still valid but has a visa for a country that currently only recognizes e-passport in case i need to travel there, i need the new one too!.

Is it possible to depart from Kenya with the old passport after March 1st ?