DCI arrest 26 linked to illegal issuance of IDs, passports
By Kiprono Keileb, December 7, 2025The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has uncovered what it describes as a wide-ranging criminal network responsible for illegally issuing some of the country’s most sensitive identification documents.
Twenty-six persons of interest have been arrested following a two-day sting operation targeting civil servants and private individuals believed to be facilitating the unlawful acquisition of government documents.
According to the DCI, the persons of interest include officers from the National Registration Bureau, staff from the Directorate of Immigration, local chiefs, financiers behind the schemes, and middlemen who expedited document processing through corrupt means.
In its statement posted on X on Sunday, December 7, 2025, the DCI said the operation was triggered by mounting intelligence pointing to a structured system of collusion within government offices.
“In a meticulously coordinated operation, detectives have arrested 26 individuals implicated in the unlawful and unprocedural acquisition of vital government documents, including National Identity Cards, Passports, Birth Certificates, and Foreigner/Alien ID Cards, among others,” the statement reads.
Violating protocols
The agency added that investigators discovered how officials entrusted with safeguarding national registration systems allegedly violated protocols for personal gain, enabling unverified individuals to obtain credentials that grant legal identity, access to services, and cross-border movement.
“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. This criminal enterprise severely compromises the integrity of government systems and exposes the country to grave security risks, including the undocumented entry and exit of individuals,” the statement reads
During coordinated searches, detectives recovered materials that should only be found inside government offices. These included filled and blank ID application forms, fingerprint-taking equipment such as slabs and rollers, birth and death certificates, passports, official government stamps, and various registration materials.
The DCI said these items were found hidden in private homes belonging to some of the suspects. All 26 individuals are now in custody, undergoing joint processing under a multi-agency team ahead of their court appearance. The search for accomplices still at large is ongoing.
“This operation underscores the unwavering commitment of law enforcement agencies to safeguard the integrity of government systems and hold accountable all those who exploit them for personal gain,” the statement reads
The DCI assured the public that investigations will continue until every leak in the registration system is sealed.