Questions over how foreign nationals allegedly secured Kenyan identity documents have reached the Senate, triggering a fresh inquiry that will see Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang called to explain possible gaps in the country's citizenship registration system.
The Senate wants the two officials to account for reports that non-citizens have illegally acquired Kenyan identity cards, passports, birth certificates and other official documents. The inquiry comes amid growing concern over the integrity of the country's national registration, immigration and civil registration systems.
The matter was tabled by nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, who sought the intervention of the Senate National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations Committee. She asked the committee to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations and establish how the suspected fraud may have occurred.
Kibwana said public concern grew after a High Court ruling involving Bosnian aid worker Zarko Knezevic, whose deportation in February 2023 raised fresh questions about the process used to issue and verify Kenyan citizenship documents.
“The case has heightened public concern about the integrity of Kenya’s immigration, civil registration and national identification systems,” the senator said.
She told the Senate that immigration authorities had alleged Knezevic fraudulently acquired a Kenyan identity card number and was in the process of obtaining a Kenyan passport before he was declared a prohibited immigrant and deported.
However, the High Court ruled on May 26 that his deportation violated his constitutional right to a fair administrative hearing under Article 47.
Kibwana said the court's findings pointed to possible weaknesses in the country's identity management systems, making it necessary for Parliament to seek clear answers on how such cases occur.
“The committee should address the circumstances surrounding the case for which the High Court delivered its ruling on May 26, 2026, that exposed the irregular acquisition of Kenyan identity documents by foreign nationals,” Kibwana said.
The senator also wants the committee to explain how foreign nationals may have obtained Kenyan citizenship documents and provide the number of investigations and prosecutions involving fraudulent identity or citizenship papers over the last 10 years.
She further called for details on the measures put in place by the National Registration Bureau, Civil Registration Services and the Department of Immigration to stop the illegal acquisition of identity documents.
Kibwana also wants the government to explain the role of criminal networks, brokers and syndicates believed to be facilitating the fraudulent acquisition of Kenyan citizenship documents, as well as the action taken against those involved.
The committee has also been asked to outline the steps taken to audit, verify and protect the national database, including the use of biometric and digital identification technologies.
In addition, senators are seeking the number of identity cards, passports and citizenship certificates that have been cancelled or revoked in the last five years because of fraud, misrepresentation or unlawful acquisition.