Arrest illustrationThe Directorate of Criminal Investigations has arrested 26 people in a two-day operation targeting a network involved in the illegal and unprocedural issuance of vital government documents.
Those arrested include civil servants from the National Registration Bureau and the Directorate of Immigration, local administrators, middlemen, and financiers believed to have participated in fast-tracking the acquisition of documents such as National ID cards, passports, birth certificates, and alien IDs through corrupt means.
In a statement on Sunday, the DCI said the group was part of a collusion scheme in which officials bypassed established procedures and used their positions to irregularly register and issue sensitive documents.
According to the DCI, the illegal activities posed a security risk by compromising the integrity of government identification systems.
During the operation, detectives recovered filled and blank National ID application forms, fingerprint-taking equipment, birth and death certificates, passports, official government stamps, and other registration tools.
"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," DCI said in a statement.
The items were found hidden in homes, despite being materials that should only be stored in authorised government offices.
All 26 suspects are in custody undergoing multi-agency processing ahead of arraignment.
The DCI has said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to safeguard government systems and ensure accountability among public officers entrusted with handling critical identification documents.
Earlier, police arrested five suspects in a coordinated crackdown targeting a notorious mobile banking fraud network operating within Mulot town.
The early-morning operation, conducted at the busy Mulot market, led to the arrest of five suspects who are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects are undergoing processing ahead of their arraignment, where they are expected to face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, engaging in organised crime, and acquiring proceeds of crime.
The DCI said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle digital fraud syndicates that have been preying on mobile banking users across the country, often siphoning funds through SIM swaps, phishing, and unauthorised account access.
“This operation underscores our commitment to tackling digital fraud and protecting Kenyans from cybercriminals,” DCI said.
The DCI has urged Kenyans to continue providing information anonymously through the Fichua Kwa DCI platform or via their toll-free number.
