Maraga condemns reports of Sudanese rebel leader holding Kenyan passport

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has condemned the alarming revelation that a Sudanese rebel leader is holding a Kenyan passport.

Maraga, who is also the UGM party leader, said the disclosure, highlighted by international and local media, not only undermines Kenya's asserted neutrality in Sudan's civil war but also exposes potential complicity in enabling atrocities, including the assault on El Fasher that United Nations experts have described as bearing the "hallmarks of genocide."

“If true, this is not a mere clerical error but a profound constitutional crisis, unveiling dangerous partnerships with individuals linked to death and destruction and possible violations of international human rights and humanitarian law,” Maraga said in a statement.

The rebel leader is under sanction by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control and the European Union.

Magara said the alleged illegal and irregular acquisition of Kenyan travel documents by the man highlights how such actors exploit passports for mobility, financial access, and evasion-turning diplomatic tools into instruments that prolong war and atrocity.

“This comes amid longstanding accusations from Sudan's military authorities that Kenya has been overly accommodating the RSF leaders,” he added.

Maraga warned that such actions erode trust in Kenya's role as a regional mediator under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) framework and risk tarnishing our nation's international standing, potentially leading to degraded passport credibility globally.

“Kenyan citizenship is not a gift to be extended at the convenience of power; it is the legal expression of our sovereignty, belonging to the people of Kenya. A passport is not just a travel document-it is the State's declaration that the bearer is one of us, bound to our Constitution, protected by our laws, and accountable to our institutions,” he explained.

To remedy this grave lapse and restore Kenya's diplomatic and constitutional integrity, Maraga urged the government to swiftly revoke the passport and any associated documents.

He added that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) must launch transparent, independent investigations against the immigration officials, processes, and any high-level facilitation involved, to uncover and prosecute those responsible.

“No office is high enough to shield violators.”

“I urge fellow Kenyans, policymakers, and the international community to demand accountability. Our nation's reputation and sovereignty depend on it.”

Reacting to the reports earlier, Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the alleged issuance of Kenyan travel documents to militia leaders could hurt Kenya’s image abroad and raise national security concerns.

He claimed that Kenya had lost a significant share of the Sudanese tea market due to such developments.

“Our tea has lost a huge market in Sudan after the Ruto administration started dealing with militia leaders,” Kalonzo said.