NAIROBI, Kenya — Martha Karua has urged President William Ruto to address mounting concerns over alleged irregularities in Kenya’s passport issuance system, following reports that a sanctioned Sudanese militia commander possessed a Kenyan passport.
In a statement dated February 28, 2026, Karua, the leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), questioned how Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa — brother to Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti — allegedly obtained Kenyan nationality and a passport.
Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Department of the Treasury updated its sanctions listing on February 19, 2026, to include Musa’s Kenyan passport details and a United Arab Emirates identification number. Musa had previously been sanctioned in October 2024 by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
“Who Gave Them Kenyan Nationality?”
Speaking in Nairobi, Karua directly challenged the integrity of Kenya’s citizenship and passport processes.
“Today when you go [to] Immigration with a Kenyan identity card and apply for a passport, you get it. So who gave them Kenyan nationality? And these people with questionable passports are people who have taken photographs with Dr. William Ruto. The question I want to ask him: are you selling Kenyan citizenship, Dr. Ruto? If so, you have desecrated that office of the President,” Karua said.
She called for immediate transparency and accountability from the highest office, arguing that the matter raises fundamental questions about national security and governance.
Citizenship Safeguards Under Scrutiny
Under the Constitution of Kenya and the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, citizenship may be acquired by birth, descent, or registration, subject to strict vetting procedures. The Directorate of Immigration Services is mandated to ensure due diligence before issuing passports or conferring nationality.
Karua said any breach in these processes would undermine public trust and potentially expose Kenya to diplomatic and security risks.
“The integrity of Kenya’s citizenship and passport system must be safeguarded,” she stated, calling for urgent clarification.
