The operation, carried out in different parts of Nairobi and several government offices, uncovered a well-organized network involving government officials, middlemen, and business operators who allegedly handled sensitive public records unlawfully.
According to investigators, detectives recovered a wide range of government-owned items hidden inside homes and private premises belonging to the suspects.
These items are meant to remain strictly within authorized government offices.
Among the recovered materials were filled and blank national ID application forms, fingerprint-capture machines, birth and death certificates, passports, official rubber stamps, and other registration tools used in civil and immigration processes.
The DCI said the possession of such items outside government offices raises serious concerns about identity fraud, document forgery, and national security risks.
Those arrested include registrars of persons, clerks, assistant chiefs, technicians, and freelance intermediaries.
Detectives believe these individuals worked together to illegally process or fast-track government documents for personal gain.
The arrests were made in areas such as Embakasi, Kamukunji, Eastleigh, and government head offices.
Some of the key suspects include:
Registrars of Persons attached to Embakasi, Kamukunji, and Kariokor offices
Immigration and Registrar clerks working at head offices
Assistant chiefs from Eastleigh
Fingerprint and electronics technicians
Middlemen and businessmen believed to link applicants to corrupt officials
The DCI noted that several suspects were found with equipment that could be used to illegally enroll individuals into government databases, a practice that threatens the integrity of national records.
Investigators believe the network involved insiders who accessed official documents from within government systems and outsiders who sourced clients willing to pay for shortcuts.
In some cases, genuine documents were allegedly issued without following legal procedures, while in other instances, sensitive forms and stamps were stored and used outside authorized offices.
The DCI said such operations undermine public trust and open doors for identity theft, illegal registration of persons, and fraudulent access to government services.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations are still ongoing and more arrests may follow as detectives analyze recovered materials and electronic data.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court, where they will face charges related to abuse of office, illegal possession of government documents, conspiracy to defraud, and violation of public service regulations.
The DCI emphasized that government workers entrusted with public systems must uphold integrity and warned that any misuse of state resources will be dealt with firmly.
The investigative agency also cautioned members of the public against engaging brokers or middlemen for services such as ID registration, passport applications, or birth certificates.
“Government services should only be accessed through official channels,” the DCI warned, adding that dealing with cartels exposes citizens to fraud and legal consequences.
This latest operation forms part of a wider government effort to clean up civil registration and immigration systems, which have previously been exploited by criminal networks.
The DCI reassured Kenyans that safeguarding national documents remains a priority and vowed to continue dismantling networks that compromise public institutions.
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