The court has granted government officials arrested over suspected involvement in the unlawful issuance of National Identity Cards and other vital government documents a Ksh 500,000 bond or an alternative cash bail of Ksh 50,000.
The suspects were presented before the Kahawa Law Courts by Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) detectives, where they pleaded not guilty.
The stakeholders proposed enforcing restrictions similar to the plastic bag ban, saying the initiative would play a key role in restoring environmental hygiene.
The officers from the DCI also recovered three driving licences, each bearing different licence numbers, Ugandan ID cards, a Democratic Republic of Congo voter's card, and several other incriminating items believed to have been used in the illegal operation.
The arrested government officials were five officers from the National Registration Bureau (NRB); the DCI also arrested two brokers and two foreign nationals believed to have benefitted from or facilitated the illegal process.
The duo comprises one national from Burundi and another from Rwanda.
The prosecution opposed the granting of bond to the two foreign nationals. Their bond application is scheduled for hearing on January 8, 2026.
The arraigned brokers allegedly acted as intermediaries in securing the fraudulent acquisition of identity cards for unqualified applicants.
One contact person, who had earlier been released on cash bail, did not avail herself at the Kahawa courts. Her defence lawyer alleged that her child was unwell.
The court gave orders for the contact person to appear in court and plead to the charges on January 21, 2025.
The DCI has revealed that investigations are ongoing to apprehend and bring to book more suspects involved in the fraudulent scheme.
The detectives say that the operation underscores the DCI’s commitment to dismantling networks engaged in identity fraud and safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s national identification system.
