Gov't still silent as questions rise over illegal issuance of Kenyan passports to foreigners

The deafening silence from the government continues to echo days after revelations of abuse of processes to issue Kenyan passports to members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Ministry of Interior and the Department of Immigration are yet to explain how Kenyan travel documents ended up in the hands of individuals linked to atrocities in Sudan and suspected dealings in Zimbabwe.

It is now almost a week since a leaked internal document from the Department of Immigration exposed a scandal that strikes at the heart of national security.

The document contained a list of individuals, the majority of them Sudanese nationals, alongside tracking numbers of Kenyan passport applications. Around the same time, the United States released a sanctions list that included a Sudanese national with ties to the RSF.

The Kenyan passport is not just a travel document, it is an acknowledgement that the holder is a citizen of Kenya and is entitled to the protections accorded to citizens.

Among those reportedly benefiting from these protections is Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, a senior RSF official who has been sanctioned by the United States for his role in the Sudan paramilitary outfit.

He is also a brother to RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. The RSF has been accused of atrocities in the Darfur region.

Also appearing on the list is Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, a frequent high-profile visitor to Kenya, who is alleged to have acquired Kenyan citizenship through a questionable process.

Five days after the story broke and sparked outrage among citizens and leaders, the issuing authority, the Department of Immigration, has maintained a stoic silence.

Director General Everlyne Cheluget attended a public event in the aftermath of the revelations but did not address the issue.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has also remained silent despite mounting calls for accountability from the public and the media.

However, the silence has not deterred those demanding answers. Lawyer Wahinya, who initiated an online campaign seeking information from the immigration department, escalated his efforts by visiting Nyayo House to seek an audience with Cheluget.

Invoking Article 35 of the Constitution, Wahinya stated that Kenyans have a right to know how the individuals obtained the documents.

Under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, the process for acquiring citizenship is clearly defined.

Foreign nationals are required to submit their applications through the Foreign Nationals Management Information System (FNMIS), after which their details undergo rigorous background checks and security vetting conducted by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Once the process is complete, the Cabinet Secretary makes the final decision to approve or reject the application, and successful applicants are then registered in the national population database.

However, in the RSF passport saga, this process appears to have been bypassed or manipulated.

As the RSF continues its campaign in Sudan, the revelation that some of its top officials may be using Kenya as a safe harbour through Kenyan travel documents continues to send shockwaves across the country.

Pressure is mounting, with clear indications that Kenyans will continue to demand answers.