Opposition leaders call for probe into foreign passport issuance, recruitment claims

 United Opposition leaders in a past meeting

A coalition of opposition leaders has called for an immediate inquiry into alleged irregularities surrounding the issuance of Kenyan passports and claims that some youth have been recruited to participate in foreign conflicts.

The leaders, speaking in a joint statement on Saturday, expressed concern about the implications of these claims for Kenya’s national security, governance, and international standing.

The statement, issued by senior opposition figures including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Former Speaker Justin Muturi, and former CS Mithika Linturi, urged Parliament and relevant authorities to undertake a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the claims.

The leaders said the inquiry should cover both the alleged issuance of Kenyan passports to foreign nationals and the purported recruitment of Kenyan youth into foreign conflicts.

The statement follows reports that a senior Sudanese militia figure recently sanctioned by the United States is listed as holding a Kenyan passport.

"The Kenyan passport is a sacred instrument of national identity. It is not a commodity, and it is not for sale," they said.

According to the statement, information has emerged alleging that some passports and identity documents may have been issued outside established procedures.

The opposition coalition stressed that such developments, if verified, could have serious consequences for Kenya’s international reputation and the welfare of its citizens.

"The consequences for ordinary Kenyans are both immediate and lasting: heightened scrutiny at international borders, severe complications in obtaining visas for education and employment, lasting reputational damage to the Kenyan passport, and the erosion of bilateral trust with Western and regional partners," reads their statement.

"This is not a partisan matter. It is a matter of national security."

The leaders also raised concerns over Kenyans stranded abroad in difficult circumstances, calling for government intervention to ensure their safe and timely repatriation.

They emphasised that the state has a responsibility to provide assistance to citizens abroad and said that no Kenyan should bear the cost of returning home in emergency situations.

"These networks lure young Kenyans with false promises of well-paying civilian employment abroad, only to place them in military uniforms," the leaders stated.

The opposition urged authorities to strengthen oversight over travel documents and youth recruitment channels to ensure transparency, adherence to the law, and protection of Kenyan citizens.

The coalition also reminded the public of the ongoing heavy rains affecting parts of the country and urged citizens to take safety precautions, particularly in flood-prone areas.

It also emphasised the importance of the state’s duty to protect and support its citizens at home and abroad.

"Please take every precaution to keep yourselves and your families safe during the ongoing heavy rainfall currently affecting most parts of our country.

Avoid flooded roads and low-lying areas, heed all advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department, and look out for one another. Your lives matter above all else," the statement concluded.