As delays in processing the critical travel document persist, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested four people suspected of being part of cartels defrauding Kenyans seeking passports.
According to a source familiar with the arrests, the four were apprehended by DCI sleuths and booked at Central Police Station on Friday last week, just hours after Interior Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued an order to clean up the Immigration Department.
The arrests come in response to complaints from Kenyans who were forced to cancel their travel plans because the department took too long to process passports, which was blamed on corruption, faulty printing machines, and a lack of booklets.
The accused will be charged with preparing to commit a felony and conspiracy to defraud unsuspecting members of the public under OB number 99/25/08/2023.
The four are Josphat Khamandi Manyonyi, Howard Tsimbagi alias Button, Ahmed Ibrahim Sheikh, and Hassan Mohamed Hosman.
“The objective of the operation was to arrest brokers who take advantage of members of the public and solicit bribes for otherwise free services,” read the statement in part.
“This has contributed to a public outcry and a perception of inefficiency and corruption in service delivery. Four suspected brokers were arrested at booked at Central Police Station.”
The suspects’ phones were confiscated and submitted for analysis to aid in further investigations.
