Suspects arraigned over unlawful issuance of ID

Nine suspects have been arraigned following a multi-agency operation that uncovered a scheme involving the unlawful issuance of National Identity Cards and other critical government documents.

Those charged include five officers from the National Registration Bureau (NRB), two brokers and two foreign nationals alleged to have benefited from or facilitated the illegal process.

They were arrested after weeks of investigations and charged alongside some brokers who investigators said acted as intermediaries in securing identity cards for unqualified applicants.

Also arrested were two foreign nationals’ Burundian national and Rwandese national. During a raid at a residence in Zimmerman, detectives recovered 19 stamps from various government agencies and three driving licences bearing different numbers but all in one suspect’s name.

Others recovered items included Ugandan identity cards, a Democratic Republic of Congo voter’s card and other items believed to have been used in the fraudulent operation.

The suspects were presented before the Kahawa Law Courts by detectives from the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), where they pleaded not guilty.

The court granted each accused person a bond of Sh500, 000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000, with one contact person.

However, one suspect, who had earlier been released on cash bail, failed to appear in court. Her defence lawyer told the court that her child was unwell.

The court directed that she take plea on January 21, 2026.

The prosecution opposed the granting of bond to the two foreign nationals, with their bond application scheduled for hearing on January 8, 2026.

DCI said investigations are ongoing as authorities pursue additional suspects believed to be involved in the scheme.

The DCI said the operation underscores its commitment to dismantling identity fraud networks and safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s national identification system.

On December 8, 2025,  at least two chiefs were among 26 people to be charged with various offences after they were arrested for allegedly facilitating the illegal issuance of critical government documents.

The suspects were allegedly implicated in the unlawful and unprocedural acquisition of vital government documents, including National Identity Cards, passports, birth certificates, and foreign/alien ID cards, among others.

The two-day intelligence-led crackdown netted civil servants from the National Registration Bureau and the Directorate of Immigration, alongside chiefs, financiers of the illegal schemes, and middlemen who fast-tracked the issuance of these documents through corrupt channels.

The operation caused panic in the offices and among the brokers, some of whom left Nairobi on learning it was ongoing.

Investigations have uncovered a disturbing network of collusion, where civil servants brazenly bypassed laid-down procedures, exploiting their positions to facilitate the illicit registration and issuance of sensitive documents, police said.

“This criminal and greedy enterprise severely compromises the integrity of government systems and exposes the country to grave security risks, including the undocumented entry and exit of individuals,” said an official aware of the issue.

During the operation, detectives seized a significant haul of government documents and tools found hidden in the homes of some suspects, materials that should strictly remain within authorised government offices.