NAIROBI, Kenya — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested 26 suspects, including civil servants, chiefs, middlemen, and private-sector accomplices, in a major multi-agency operation targeting a criminal network responsible for the illegal acquisition of vital government documents.
The two-day crackdown, conducted across Nairobi and neighbouring regions, uncovered an elaborate system through which National Identity Cards, passports, birth and death certificates, and foreigner/alien IDs were being issued unlawfully, in violation of Kenya’s strict registration procedures.
According to investigators, civil servants drawn from the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and the Directorate of Immigration colluded with middlemen and financiers to fast-track document approvals through bribery, forgery, and bypassing of procedural requirements.
Detectives say the network poses a serious national security threat, enabling undocumented persons to enter or reside in the country undetected.
During coordinated searches in the homes of several suspects, police seized a trove of registration materials that should only be found within authorised government offices.
Among the recovered items were filled and blank ID application forms, fingerprint-taking equipment, birth and death certificates, passports, official government stamps, and other tools commonly used in processing critical State documents.
“This criminal enterprise severely compromises the integrity of government systems and exposes the country to grave security risks,” a senior officer involved in the operation said.
Those arrested include:
- Judy Kemunto Ondari, Registrar of Persons, Embakasi
- Moses Mugoya Margaret, Clerk, Registrar of Persons Head Office (NSSF Building)
- Ruth Osebe Sukuru, Registrar of Persons, Kamukunji
- Jawahir Mohamed Muse, Assistant Chief, Eastleigh North
- Mohamed Issack Gedow, Assistant Chief, Eastleigh
- Moulid Yusuf Dige, Businessman
- Abdirizak Osman Rage, Middleman
- Alfred Opia Ayaway, Middleman
- Abdirizak Abdi, Electronics Technician
- Abdirashid Mohamed Ali, Clerk, Shima Group International
- Festus Bahati Chai, Fingerprints Technician, Registrar of Persons Head Office
- Abdirizack Bashir Farah, Middleman
- Samatar Osman Robne, Businessman
- Fuadh Bulle Mohamed, Businessman
- Geoffrey Mokoro Mutanya, Clerk, Immigration Department
- Joseph Mwendwa Munyithia, Registrar of Persons, Kariokor
- AbdiKadir Mohamed Dahir, Businessman
- Berrick Kororia Maghas Sukuru, Registrar of Persons, Kamukunji
- David Korir, Clerk, Registrar of Persons Head Office
- Titus Mwanga Nthenge, Senior Subordinate Staff, Registrar of Persons Head Office
- Yahya Daud Manor
- Issack Abdow Mohammed
- Nelson Katana Kazungu
- Daniel Munywoki Kavuwa
- Abdullahi Abdi Khamisi
- Abdirahman Roba Guyo
All suspects are in custody undergoing processing ahead of arraignment.
The DCI said the sweep reflects the government’s renewed commitment to dismantling criminal networks within vital registration systems and protecting the integrity of national identity frameworks.
“The operation demonstrates that law enforcement will not tolerate the exploitation of public systems for personal gain,” investigators said, adding that multi-agency surveillance continues as more suspects are pursued.
