Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation- Immigration have arrested four suspects in what appears to be a crackdown on corrupt officials at Kenya’s immigration department.
According to a source at Nyayo House, those arrested include Josphat Khamandi Manyonyi, Howard Tsimbagi alias Button, Ahmed Ibrahim Sheikh, and Hassan Mohamed Hosman, who are suspected of taking advantage of members of the public.
Investigations into the shadowy activities at Nyayo House have revealed how Immigrations staffers have solicited bribes for aeons, sparking outrage and tarnishing Nyayo House’s public image.
The suspects were detained at the Central Police station following their arrests on Friday, August 25, pending their arraignment for the crimes of preparation to commit a felony and conspiracy to defraud members of the public.
The arrests follow a crackdown announced by Ministry of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who called the Nyayo house a “crime scene” and promised to clean it up once and for all.
“I will clean up Nyayo house once & for all,” CS Kithure told the committee, “We will seal off Nyayo house & name it a scene of crime. How do Kenyans cue from 6AM? It wonβt be business as usual. We must clean up Nyayo house,” CS Kindiki told the National Assembly.
According to the CS, some of Kenya’s ongoing problems, such as insecurity and terrorism, can be traced back to corruption at Nyayo House.
According to the CS, the passport backlogβa pain point for most Kenyansβcurrently stands at 58,000, with the Department of Immigration and Citizen Services processing approximately 5,000 passports daily.
Kithure, stated that plans are in the works to issue passports in 7 days, and that the issuance time will be reduced to 3 days in the future, and 24 hours in the event of an emergency.