Kenyan authorities are facing scrutiny as investigations expose a human trafficking network allegedly involving corrupt officials from government ministries. Reports reveal that a fake company, the Diplomatic Executive Service Network (DESNET), was used to facilitate fraudulent travel arrangements.
An investigation by KTN News and The Standard Newspaper indicates that this network extends beyond national borders, impacting countries like Somalia and Ethiopia. Previous reports have highlighted how these syndicates, sometimes backed by European and Russian operatives, exploit vulnerable individuals, leading to severe financial losses and even smuggling ties to terrorism.
The investigation uncovered that ministries, including Foreign Affairs and Sports, were embroiled in a visa fraud scheme. Following a whistleblower tip-off, 12 individuals were arrested in June 2023. Journalist Francis Odee revealed that ordinary Kenyans were coerced into paying between $15,000 and $20,000 for promises of U.S. visas and Green Cards. These victims were fraudulently listed as government officials for the 2023 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.
Documents obtained during the investigation show that DESNET attempted to secure visas for non-officials, including one Monica Mumbi Njenga, who was falsely presented as a government official but was actually employed at a hair salon in Nairobi. Despite the arrests, Njenga remains at large.
Officials from the Ministry of Sports did not respond to inquiries, while a secret recording revealed that a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted to endorsing DESNET, without acknowledging any misconduct. Importantly, the investigation found no involvement from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
This scandal echoes similar fraud cases in Somalia, where a list of 70 individuals claiming to be government officials was rejected by the Italian Embassy in Mogadishu. These incidents emphasize the urgent need for enhanced oversight and accountability within East African government institutions, particularly in combating visa fraud and human trafficking.
