Police arrest 29 in nationwide forged documents syndicate as chiefs, civil servants linked to major fraud network

Police have arrested 29 people in a major nationwide crackdown targeting a sophisticated syndicate behind the production of fake IDs, forged land titles and falsified government letters. The operation, led by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), uncovered a network involving chiefs, civil servants and other public officers linked to widespread fraud affecting citizens and financial institutions.

Officials said the syndicate posed a serious threat, with counterfeit documents exposing banks and unsuspecting Kenyans to significant financial losses. Among those arrested are three chiefs accused of facilitating illegal acquisition of citizenship documents. A terror suspect who obtained a vital document through the network is also in custody, with detectives now pursuing his accomplices.

Investigators believe the group produced numerous forged papers, including birth certificates and official letterheads, which were later presented as genuine. Police say several security officers are under scrutiny for allegedly aiding foreigners previously declared unlawfully present in the country.

Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said the ongoing operation will continue until all individuals involved are arrested, describing the scheme as “economic sabotage”. Recovered fake documents have already been destroyed.

In a separate incident, a civil servant at the State Department for Cabinet Affairs was arrested after allegedly forging a senior official’s signature. The suspect had delivered a fake letter to the National Police Service Commission listing “state-recommended candidates” for recruitment. Investigators revealed he had been running a private forgery operation and is already suspended over earlier misconduct, including falsifying his own promotion.

Police say they are closing in on remaining suspects and have vowed to dismantle the entire network.