17 people arrested over alleged fraud in issuance of passports- Kindiki

CS Interior Kithure Kindiki before the Senate Adhoc Committee on 1998 Bomb Blast victims compensation. October 12th,2023 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Police are holding 17 people arrested over their alleged involvement in the fraudulent issuance of passports at Nyayo House, Nairobi.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Thursday, October 12 told the Ad Hoc Committee that the 17 were arrested last week, including on allegations of frustrating the passport issuance process.

Among them are seven public servants stationed at the immigration office.

"Our team is tracking other suspects and we are targeting senior government officials who have been colluding with people who don’t mean well for the country," said Kindiki.

The Standard has since established that the seven public officers are immigration officers who were allegedly colluding with brokers from outside, who are notorious for collecting bribes from Kenyans seeking immigration services including obtaining passports.

At the same time, the Interior CS urged any victims of the 1998 bomb blast who may want to travel abroad and do not have a passport to pay him [Kindiki] a visit to his office.

"Requests have also been made to fast-track passport applications for 1998 bomb blast victims who may want to travel and do not have passports. A list should be made and brought to my office, we will issue all victims with passports," he added.

The CS also told the committee that local and international collaboration and partnerships have been enhanced to facilitate effective information-sharing mechanisms.

Other measures established by the Government to tackle terrorism include enhanced financial regulation by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the deployment of modern technology in policing.

"While American fatalities and Kenyan employees of the US Embassy who were affected by the 1998 bombing were compensated, no such consideration was given to other Kenyans affected by the incident. We support the pursuit of a speedy resolution to the matter," he said.