Nyayo House: Police Arrest 4 Suspects Believed To Solicit Bribes To Process Passports For Applicants

• Four people are being held by detectives in connection with operating a syndicate that defrauds passport applicants at Nairobi's Nyayo House
• A security operation was undertaken in Nyayo House, leading to the arrests; the suspects face charges related to felony and defrauding the public
• Interior CS Kithure Kindiki recently admitted that there is an indictment in immigration department where passport issuance has become a gamble

Nairobi - A quartet of people suspected to constitute a syndicate defrauding passport applicants has been arrested.

A security operation undertaken by the state law enforcers led to the arrests, with the suspects now facing charges related to fraud and felony.

The police caught up with the suspects in Nairobi's Nyayo House, which hosts several government departments such as immigration.

“This has contributed to a public outcry and a perception of inefficiency and corruption in service delivery. Four suspected brokers were arrested and booked at Central Police Station,” officials said.

The suspects will face charges of preparation to commit a felony and conspiracy to defraud the unsuspecting public," investigators and the officials at Nyayo House are quoted as having said.

This came days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki admitted to corruption malpractices at the department.

Kindiki's admission of fraud at Nyayo House

He however vowed to clean up Nyayo House to ensure seamless processing of passports.

While appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Thursday, August 24, the CS admitted there was massive corruption at Nyayo House.

Kindiki regretted that some government officials had transformed Nyayo House into a centre for individuals preying on those seeking new passports.

"I have admitted that we have a problem in the Immigration Department. But I must say that there are also good officers who are serving patriotically,. There are others collecting bribes and harassing Kenyans," Kindiki said.

KSh 10k bribes at Nyayo House

He disclosed that his office and that of President William Ruto had received reliable intelligence and complaints from Kenyans on how applicants are forced to give a bribe of as high as KSh 10,000 before their passports are processed.

"I have received a lot of complaints from Kenyans who are looking for passports. This is very unfortunate and cannot be allowed to continue unabated. The president has also received several complaints even from his counterparts within the region and overseas, over deliberate attempts to delay passport processing," the CS stated.

Kindiki assured the committee that he would take charge of the issue to ensure all officers involved in the saga were held accountable.

According to him, he might be forced to declare Nyayo House a crime scene until he cleans it up.

"I have this week had a very candid discussion with the principal secretary, and I can assure you that I will clean this up. We will seal Nyayo House and declare it a crime scene because of corruption," he added.