NAIROBI, Kenya — A Nairobi-based lawyer has formally petitioned the Director General of Immigration Services over the alleged issuance of Kenyan passports to 28 foreign nationals, raising questions about due process and national security safeguards.
Advocate Peter Wahinya submitted the request under Sections 4, 6 and 8 of the Access to Information Act, seeking detailed disclosure on how the passports were processed and approved.
He has asked the department to clarify the circumstances under which the travel documents were granted and to provide records of all materials submitted during the application process.
The individuals named in the request include Mohammed Osman Shareif Suleiman, Taha Osman Ishag Adam, Siddig Elsadig Elsiddig Elmahdi, Omar Bashir Mohamed Manis, Omar Bashir Mohamed Yunis, Wicknel Munodaani Chivayo, Samy Ahmed, Elgoony Ahmed, Stephen Buoy Rolnyang, and Mohamed Eldawi, among others.
The identities were first publicised by activist Boniface Mwangi, who alleged that the individuals did not pay for the passports because they were classified as Very Important Persons (VIPs).
In correspondence copied to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Commission on Administrative Justice, Wahinya requested comprehensive documentation. This includes passport application forms, supporting documents, payment receipts, security and vetting clearance reports, internal approval memos, and any correspondence relating to expedited processing.
He further sought access to “all internal correspondence, directives, emails, minutes, or instructions including from State House, the Office of the President, or any other authority relating to the waiver or bypassing of standard passport application requirements such as residency, payment of full fees, or normal vetting timelines for the above-named individuals.”
The lawyer also requested records indicating dates of submission, approval and payment, alongside any justifications for accelerated processing or exemptions from standard requirements. He asked for disclosure of any internal investigations, audit findings or disciplinary measures initiated following public scrutiny of the alleged issuances.
“I request the information in electronic format (PDF scans or digital copies) via email or, if too voluminous, via a secure download link or collection in person. If any portion is exempt under Section 6 of the Act, please provide the non-exempt/segregable portions and state the specific exemption(s) relied upon,” he says in the letter.
Wahinya stated that the request was made in the public interest, citing potential violations of citizenship and passport regulations, possible corruption, and national security implications.
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Under Section 9 of the Access to Information Act, public institutions are required to respond within 21 days. The lawyer has asked for acknowledgment within three working days and indicated he would seek redress from the Ombudsman should the department fail to respond within the statutory timeframe.
Kenya’s passport issuance process is governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, which outlines eligibility criteria, vetting procedures and associated fees.
Allegations of preferential treatment or irregular processing, particularly if involving waivers of fees or security clearance, could raise significant legal and political questions.
In recent years, Kenya has intensified scrutiny of immigration systems amid concerns about identity fraud, document forgery and transnational crime networks. Analysts say any confirmed procedural breaches could prompt internal audits or parliamentary oversight.
As of publication, the Directorate of Immigration Services had not publicly responded to the claims.
