Immigration Director General Evelyn Cheluget and Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services Dr Belio Kipsang are facing growing scrutiny following a major KTN investigation that exposed alleged illegal issuance of Kenyan identity documents to foreign nationals.
The investigation, aired on June 14, 2026, claims that rogue officials within the Immigration Department and the National Registration Bureau have been facilitating the acquisition of Kenyan identity cards, passports, and birth certificates by non-citizens through bribery and corruption.
As the heads of key institutions responsible for immigration and registration services, Cheluget and Kipsang are now under pressure to explain how the documents are allegedly being issued and what measures are being taken to stop the practice.
According to the investigation, foreign nationals from countries including Somalia, Ethiopia, and Uganda have allegedly obtained Kenyan documents after bypassing established verification and vetting procedures.
The report describes the situation as a serious national security concern, warning that the integrity of Kenya’s identification system could be compromised if the allegations are proven true.
The revelations have sparked political and public debate. Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana has formally requested a Senate inquiry into the matter, asking the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to investigate reports that non-citizens have illegally acquired Kenyan identity cards, passports, and birth certificates.
She wants lawmakers to determine how the documents are being issued and whether criminal syndicates are operating within government institutions.
The senator’s request follows a High Court ruling delivered on May 26, 2026, involving a Bosnian aid worker who was deported after irregularly obtaining a Kenyan identification number.
The ruling added fresh attention to concerns about possible loopholes in the country’s registration and immigration systems.
The controversy has also attracted political reactions from different sides. Belgut MP Nelson Koech has argued that some of the identity cards currently being questioned were issued in 2022 during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
He maintains that once a foreign national obtains a valid Kenyan identity card, immigration officials may have little reason to reject a passport application, shifting attention to earlier approval stages.
Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has continued to raise concerns about the alleged sale of Kenyan identity cards to foreign nationals.
Citing information from a whistleblower, he claimed that individuals can pay large sums of money to obtain Kenyan IDs before later applying for passports.
He warned that such practices could undermine national security and weaken confidence in Kenyan travel documents, especially as the country approaches the 2027 General Election.
In response to the growing pressure, Dr Belio Kipsang has defended the government’s position, insisting that strict procedures exist to ensure only eligible individuals receive Kenyan identification documents.
He has also revealed that investigations into allegations involving passports issued to foreign nationals are currently being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kipsang stressed that safeguarding the credibility of the Kenyan passport is a key responsibility and that any compromise could have serious consequences for Kenyan citizens travelling abroad.
On the same day the KTN investigation was made public, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen held meetings with both Evelyn Cheluget and Dr Kipsang as part of ongoing reforms in the immigration sector.
While the discussions focused on improving service delivery, including faster passport processing and free first-time ID applications, the timing of the meetings placed renewed attention on the two officials as questions continue to emerge over the alleged illegal issuance of Kenyan documents.
With calls for a Senate investigation gaining momentum, both Cheluget and Kipsang are expected to face increasing demands for answers as authorities seek to establish how foreign nationals may have acquired sensitive Kenyan documents and whether those responsible will be held accountable.
