In a recent operation, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) apprehended a suspect alongside 14 others during a raid at Nyayo House. This operation was carried out to combat corruption within the Department of Immigration Services related to passport issuance.
After days of tracking and conducting forensic analysis on the identified suspects, DCI detectives from the Transnational Organized Crime unit initiated the raid. The initial raid led to the apprehension of four staff members and a broker for further questioning.
During the operation, one of the suspects suffered a heart attack at the scene. They were immediately rushed to AAR Hospital on Kiambu Road, where they were diagnosed with a heart attack and high sugar levels. The suspect was released on bail for medical treatment, while detectives sought custodial orders for the remaining suspects at Kahawa Law Courts to continue their investigations.
Subsequent raids conducted on Nyayo House and the Central Business District resulted in the arrest of another staff member and eight brokers. The 15 individuals were accused of soliciting significant sums of money from individuals seeking passports and work permits while exploiting a temporary system downtime to further their illicit gains.
These corrupt officials had strategically placed brokers around the facility to lure and collect funds from desperate applicants with emergency cases, as well as individuals with means who could influence special treatment. This unfair practice disadvantaged ordinary Kenyan applicants who followed the correct procedures.
Investigations have uncovered a trail of transactions in the suspects' mobile money and bank accounts, indicating how money was transferred to immigration officers and their proxies. This evidence is expected to be crucial in the upcoming prosecution.
The arrests followed impromptu visits to Nyayo House and other Immigration offices by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, who aimed to streamline operations and root out corruption. During the first raid, four individuals were apprehended for idling around and frustrating passport seekers. As a result, over 20,000 stalled passport applications were promptly processed, and applicants were directed to collect their documents.
In response to the ongoing investigation, Kindiki stated, "We will clean up this place from corruption cartels and anyone asking for bribes here. We will arrest and prosecute them. We have already made some arrests, and I want to make it clear that this space is not available for corruption."