17 immigration officers arrested in passport cartel crackdown at Nyayo House

More than a dozen personnel stationed at Nyayo House have been arrested and charged in a fresh effort to tackle corruption. The move is part of a bigger effort to eliminate cartels preventing the processing and issuance of passports.

During a session with MPs on Thursday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki revealed the crackdown, disclosing that an intelligence-led investigation had led to the apprehending of 17 officers. "Detectives are also zeroing in on more culprits in a renewed push to dismantle the complex cartel that has long frustrated the reform efforts at Nyayo House and other immigration offices across the country," said Kindiki.

The recent arrests are part of the government's ongoing efforts to restructure the immigration department, which began last year. Public uproar over delayed passport processing forced the government to initiate a transformation initiative and begin pulling out unscrupulous officials from Nyayo House.

In a statement on February 23, Kindiki reiterated the government's commitment to combat corruption within the department. "Those found culpable will be removed from service and held accountable through prosecution and surcharges," he declared.

Acknowledging the persistent challenges and sabotage within the department, Kindiki assured MPs of ongoing actions to streamline operations. He underscored that his office had taken on all public communication duties related to passport processing until the department's operations underwent a complete overhaul.

Kindiki also addressed budgetary constraints contributing to delays in document processing, ensuring that steps were being taken to address these issues.