Twenty-six suspects arrested in a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) operation targeting a syndicate accused of fraudulently issuing vital government documents were on Tuesday arraigned before Magistrate Gideon Kiage at the Kahawa Law Courts.
The suspects — a mix of National Registration Bureau officials, Immigration clerks, assistant chiefs, technicians, businessmen, and freelance brokers — are facing charges that include conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, abuse of office, and unlawful issuance of ID cards and birth and death certificates.
Prosecution: Syndicate Posed Grave Security Risks
According to the prosecution, the multi-agency operation uncovered a network facilitating the illegal issuance of key government documents to unqualified persons, including foreigners. Authorities said the scheme presented serious national security threats, enabling:
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Potential terrorist infiltration
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Undocumented entry and exit of individuals
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Creation of fake identities for criminal activity
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Evasion of mandatory vetting processes
One suspect was reportedly found with cheque books, multiple mobile phones, statutory declarations, receipts, and filled application forms — items prosecutors cited as evidence of a well-coordinated parallel document-processing operation.
State Opposes Bail
Prosecutors argued that releasing the suspects would undermine sensitive ongoing investigations, including forensic analysis of confiscated phones and tracing individuals linked to the recovered documents.
Defence: Arrests Done in Bad Faith
The defence team, led by Senior Counsel Ndubi, sharply criticised the State, calling the arrests premature and unlawful. Ndubi accused investigators of parading suspects online before completing basic inquiries.
“You cannot arrest first, parade people publicly, and then begin looking for evidence,” he stated, adding that some officers were arrested merely for being at their workstations.
Prof. Nandwa echoed the concerns, arguing the State had not shown direct involvement in wrongdoing for many of the accused. Lawyer Danstan Omari noted that the prosecution had already admitted to mistakenly arresting some individuals and urged the court to release them.
Humanitarian Concerns Raised
Defence lawyers informed the court that several of the suspects are young mothers, including one with a two-month-old baby delivered via caesarean section, while others are said to be in need of medical attention.
Magistrate Kiage directed the Investigating Officer to ensure all suspects requiring medical care receive prompt treatment and are allowed to access hospital services as needed.
In special consideration, the magistrate released the young mother on a KSh 500,000 bond, with instructions to keep away from her workstation and report to investigators whenever required.
Ruling Set for December 11
Magistrate Kiage will deliver his ruling on the State’s custodial application and the defence submissions on 11 December 2025. Meanwhile, the suspects remain detained at Capital Hill Police Station.