NAIROBI, Kenya — Nine individuals, including five officers from Kenya’s National Registration Bureau (NRB), have been arrested and arraigned for their alleged roles in a sophisticated scheme involving the unlawful issuance of national identity cards and other government documents.
The suspects, arraigned at Kahawa Law Courts by detectives from the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), pleaded not guilty to the charges. They include NRB officers Titus Muasya Nthenge, Judy Kemto, Festus Bahat Chai, Moses Mogaya, and Ruth Osebe, as well as brokers Yahya Daudi and Abdikadir Mohamed Dahir. Two foreigners — Mauris Havyarimana of Burundi and Victor Kamanda of Rwanda — were also arrested in connection with the operation.
Authorities recovered 19 stamps from various government agencies, three driving licenses belonging to Kamanda, Ugandan ID cards, a Democratic Republic of Congo voter’s card, and several other items believed to have been used in the fraudulent scheme during a raid in Zimmerman.
The court granted each suspect a bond of Sh 500,000 or a cash alternative of Sh 50,000, with one guarantor. However, the two foreign nationals’ bond applications have been opposed by the prosecution and are set for a hearing on January 8. Judy Kemto, previously released on cash bail, did not appear in court due to a sick child and is directed to plead on January 21.
Investigations are ongoing, with authorities vowing to apprehend additional suspects involved in the operation. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) emphasized that the arrests demonstrate its commitment to dismantling networks involved in identity theft and safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s national identification system.
A senior DCI officer said, “This operation is a major step in ensuring that government documents are protected and that those attempting to circumvent the law are held accountable. We will continue to pursue all leads until every individual involved is brought to justice.”
The case has highlighted concerns about internal collusion and security lapses in the issuance of critical government documents and underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting Kenya’s identification system.
