No Idlers Will Be Allowed At Nyayo House, Kindiki Declares As Gov’t Goes After Passport Brokers
Prof. Kithure Kindiki, minister of the interior, has ordered security agencies to prevent anyone from loitering near Nyayo House, which has been the subject of allegations of corruption and exploitation of Kenyans seeking passports and other services.
On his second consecutive day of visiting Nyayo House on Friday, the Interior CS stated that the government is determined to expedite services at the Immigration department and warned loiterers that they risk arrest and prosecution.
No one will be permitted to loiter around Nyayo House, and security officers will rigorously enforce the law and apprehend anyone soliciting bribes from applicants for passports and other citizenship documents, according to Kindiki.
The order was issued by the CS in response to mounting concerns about a bribery ring collaborating with Immigration officials at Nyayo House to solicit bribes from members of the public, particularly those applying for passports.
Brokers have reportedly been spotted in the area soliciting bribes from Kenyans wishing to avoid lengthy lines and receive expedited service at Nyayo House.
Prof. Kindiki announced that, as part of efforts to streamline services at Nyayo House, emergency desks have been established to expedite the processing of passports for applicants with urgent needs, such as those seeking medical care abroad, students bound for educational institutions abroad, and individuals who have secured employment opportunities abroad and have reporting deadlines.
Kindiki added, “Expectant and nursing mothers, parents or guardians accompanying minors, the elderly, and people with disabilities will also receive special consideration at the immigration desks.”
ALSO READ: Kindiki’s Call: Nyayo House as Crime Scene
In the meantime, the CS has assured the public that the current congestion in passport processing will be eliminated within two weeks.
“As we work to resolve the production issues through the purchase of modern printing machines, recruit additional immigration officers, and improve the department’s infrastructure, all efforts and personnel have been deployed to clear the passport processing backlog within fourteen days,” he said.
Kindiki labeled Nyayo House a crime scene last week, attributing the interminable delays in passport issuance and processing to corrupt officials.
The Cabinet Secretary stated before the Regional Integration Committee in Parliament that officers at Nyayo House are accepting bribes for services that the government provides for free, pledging to clear up the department for good.
“I will clean up Nyayo house once and for all,” said CS Kithure to the committee. “We will seal off Nyayo house and label it a crime scene.” What do Kenyans do at 6 a.m.? Not everything will proceed as usual. We must tidy the Nyayo residence.”
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation have since arrested four men suspected of soliciting gratuities inside Nyayo House.
The mobile phones of the four suspects, Josphat Khamandi Manyonyi, Howard Tsimbagi alias Button, Ahmed Ibrahim Sheikh, and Hassan Mohamed Hosman, were confiscated as detectives sought evidence to prosecute them for defrauding naive applicants.
No Idlers Will Be Allowed At Nyayo House, Kindiki Declares As Gov’t Goes After Passport Brokers