Passport shortcut? EACC arrests immigration employee over Sh12,000 demand

MOMBASA, Kenya — A passport applicant's attempt to get faster service has landed an immigration employee in trouble after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested the official over an alleged Sh12,000 bribe demand.

The employee, attached to the State Department for Immigration, Border Control and Citizen Services, was arrested in Mombasa following a complaint lodged with the EACC's Lower Coast Regional Office.

The commission said its preliminary investigations indicated that the employee allegedly asked for, and agreed to receive, Sh12,000 to facilitate the applicant's fingerprint capture and speed up the passport application.

EACC then mounted an operation that resulted in the arrest.

The employee was taken to Central Police Station in Mombasa, where the suspect was booked and processed before being released on Sh20,000 cash bail, according to the commission.

The investigation is continuing.

Alleged shortcut through the passport process

The case highlights a problem that can arise when applicants believe paying an unofficial fee is the quickest way through a government service.

Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services requires passport applicants to apply online, pay the prescribed government fee and book an appointment before appearing at a processing centre for document submission and biometric enrolment.

The official service charter lists passport processing at 14 working days. The published charges currently range from Sh7,550 for a 34-page ordinary passport to Sh12,050 for a 66-page passport.

The alleged Sh12,000 payment in the Mombasa case would therefore have been separate from the official passport charge.

EACC has not said whether the applicant ultimately received faster processing as a result of the alleged payment.

How the alleged bribe came to light

According to EACC, the complaint was first made at its Lower Coast regional office.

Investigators then examined the allegation and established what the commission described as a preliminary case involving the alleged solicitation and agreement to receive Sh12,000.

The arrest followed the investigation and an operation by the anti-corruption agency.

The commission has not identified the employee by name.

The allegations have also not been tested in court. The employee remains entitled to due process and is presumed innocent unless a court determines otherwise.

What applicants are supposed to do

The case comes as Immigration continues to move more of its passport process online.

Applicants are required to submit applications and make payments through the official eCitizen system before booking appointments at designated passport processing centres. These include Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Embu, Kisii, Kericho and Bungoma.

Biometric enrolment, including photographs and fingerprints, is carried out at the processing centres.

The Directorate's service charter also sets out official procedures and charges, giving applicants a basis for checking whether a payment being requested is legitimate.

That distinction is important.

A government employee asking for money to perform a service that is already covered by an official fee is not the same as an applicant paying the prescribed government charge.

EACC steps up anti-bribery enforcement

The Mombasa arrest is part of EACC's wider work targeting corruption at points where members of the public interact directly with government officials.

The commission said it remains committed to tackling bribery at service delivery points and improving the quality of public services.

“The Commission remains committed to tackling bribery at service delivery points and enhancing the quality of public services for all citizens,” EACC said.

For ordinary citizens, such cases can have a direct impact.

Passport applications are often time-sensitive. People may need travel documents for employment, education, medical treatment, business or family commitments.

That urgency can make applicants vulnerable to anyone promising to move their application to the front of the queue.

EACC urges public to report demands for bribes

The commission has urged members of the public to report demands for bribes rather than treating them as part of the cost of accessing government services.

For passport applicants, the Immigration Department also provides official channels for complaints and enquiries. Its published contacts include a passport hotline and a Mombasa passport office contact.

The Mombasa case will now depend on the evidence gathered by investigators.

EACC is expected to complete its investigations and forward the findings to the relevant authorities for further action.

For now, the arrest is an allegation, not a conviction.

But the case sends a clear message to both sides of the passport counter: the official price of a government service should be clear, and any demand for an unofficial payment can trigger a corruption investigation.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.