In a shocking revelation at Milimani Law Court, police investigators uncovered a sophisticated identity fraud scheme, leading to the arrest of a suspect accused of obtaining Kenyan identification credentials through fraudulent means.
The suspect, Abdihakim Said Jama, is facing charges of providing false information to a public service employee, alongside allegations of submitting forged documents to obtain a Kenyan identity card and passport.
Investigation Officer Gachii Gakure, who took the stand on Tuesday, detailed how Jama manipulated the system to falsely acquire Kenyan citizenship.
According to Gakure, the suspect’s attempt to register as a Kenyan citizen involved several fraudulent steps, including the submission of fake documents and impersonating officials.
“The investigation team could not locate any Chief’s Letter to support the registration of Abdihakim Said Jama as a Kenyan citizen,” Gakure informed the court, underscoring the depth of the deception.
The officer went on to explain that key documents obtained from the Registrar of Persons in Isiolo painted a clear picture of the fraud.
“We found no record of a valid birth certificate, and the documents submitted by the accused were forged. The individuals who were said to have approved the birth certificate later denied ever meeting the accused,” Gakure testified.
Further complicating the case, the investigation revealed inconsistencies in Jama’s familial background.
Gakure presented new evidence indicating that the suspect’s claimed father was non-existent.
“The accused’s purported father does not exist at all,” the officer stated, adding that this was a crucial element of the fraudulent scheme.
In a further twist, Gakure explained that Jama had also lied about the status of his mother, Fatuma.
While the suspect had claimed that his mother was deceased, the truth was far different.
“Fatuma is alive, and she testified during the case, denying any relationship with the accused,” Gakure said.
The officer confirmed that Fatuma had been shocked to learn of Jama’s claims, and she firmly rejected any association with him.
During cross-examination, the officer clarified that Jama’s fabricated identity was not just a case of mistaken documentation but part of a larger effort to exploit Kenya’s registration system.
“The process through which the suspect obtained his ID card and passport was fraudulent from start to finish,” Gakure said.
He also noted that local administration officials, who were responsible for the verification of Jama’s documents, had no knowledge of him.
“The local administration also stated that they had never seen or met the accused in the area he claims to come from,” he explained.
Jama is accused of submitting these falsified documents between March and June of 2011 in Isiolo, where he allegedly tried to obtain a Kenyan identity card by providing false information to a local chief.
