The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested four people suspected to be part of cartels defrauding Kenyans seeking passports as delays in processing the critical travel document persists.
An insider aware of the arrests told Kenyans.co.ke on Wednesday that the four were rounded by DCI sleuths and booked at Central Police Station on Friday last week just hours after Interior Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued an order for a clean-up at the Immigration Department.
The arrests follow complaints from Kenyans who have been forced to suspend their travels after the department took too long to process passports which has been blamed on corruption, faulty printing machines, and a shortage of booklets.
Booked under OB number 99/25/08/2023, the accused will be charged with the offense of preparing to commit a felony and conspiracy to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The four include Josphat Khamandi Manyonyi, Howard Tsimbagi alias Button, Ahmed Ibrahim Sheikh and Hassan Mohamed Hosman.
"The objective of the operation was to arrest brokers who take advantage of members of the public and solicit bribes for otherwise free services," read the statement in part.
"This has contributed to a public outcry and a perception of inefficiency and corruption in service delivery. Four suspected brokers were arrested at booked at Central Police Station."
The suspects' phones were confiscated and submitted for analysis to support further investigations.
On Thursday last week, the Interior Minister while appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Security, argued that the building had transformed into a hub for individuals preying on those in pursuit of obtaining new passports. Soon after, he declared it a crime scene.
"I have received a lot of complains from Kenyans who are looking for passports. This is very unfortunate and cannot be allowed to continue unabated," Kindiki lamented at the time.
"The President has also received a number of complaints even from his counterparts within the region and overseas over deliberate attempt to delay passport processing."
Subsequently, Director-General of Immigration Evelyn Cheluget summoned departmental heads at the famed building over the backlog of passports.
During the meeting, she warned all employees at the Directorate of Immigration who have been aiding Kenyans in securing passports through corrupt means.
After the meeting, the institution also introduced nightshifts to increase the printing of passports - a service that will now run from 7:00am to 9:00pm.
