Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana has called for a Senate investigation into reports of foreign nationals obtaining Kenyan identity documents, raising concerns about the integrity of the country’s registration and immigration systems.

In a statement sought in the Senate on Thursday, June 11, 2026, Kibwana asked the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to investigate the acquisition of Kenyan identity cards, passports, birth certificates and other citizenship documents by non-citizens.

The senator wants the committee to examine existing safeguards within the National Registration Bureau, Civil Registration Services and the Immigration Department, and establish whether they are adequate to prevent document fraud.

Case prompts Senate scrutiny

The request follows a case involving Bosnian aid worker Zlatko Gegic, who was deported in February 2023 after being declared a prohibited immigrant.

According to the statement before the Senate, immigration authorities claimed Gegic had irregularly acquired a Kenyan identity number and was seeking to obtain a Kenyan passport.

However, a High Court ruling delivered on May 26, 2026, found that the deportation violated his constitutional right to a fair administrative hearing under Article 47 of the Constitution.

Kibwana said the matter raises broader questions about the credibility of Kenya’s citizenship and identification systems.

“This matter raises serious questions about the integrity of our registration and immigration systems. The Committee must establish how foreign nationals are allegedly obtaining Kenyan identity cards, passports, birth certificates and other documents, and what safeguards exist to prevent such fraud,” she said.

Committee asked to review fraud cases

The senator is seeking a detailed report on the number of cases investigated or prosecuted over the last ten years involving fraudulent possession of Kenyan identity and citizenship documents.

She also wants the committee to establish whether criminal networks, brokers or organised syndicates are involved in facilitating the acquisition of such documents and what action has been taken against them.

The inquiry is expected to examine procedures used in the issuance of identity cards, passports and birth certificates, as well as oversight mechanisms designed to detect fraud.

Focus on security and citizen rights

Kibwana noted that while Kenya must safeguard the integrity of citizenship documentation, legitimate citizens should not face unnecessary barriers when accessing registration services.

“Kenya must protect the integrity of its citizenship documentation while ensuring genuine citizens, especially in border regions and high-migration areas, are not unfairly denied registration services,” she said.

The request has been committed to the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations for consideration.

The committee is expected to investigate the issues raised and provide a response to the Senate on the status of document fraud cases, existing safeguards and measures being implemented to protect the integrity of Kenya’s identification and immigration systems.