Three officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Deputy Chief of Protocol, have been arraigned in a Nairobi court on charges of forgery and conspiracy to commit diplomatic fraud.
The charges follow a months-long investigation into an elaborate scheme involving falsified diplomatic documents, which was uncovered through cooperation between Kenyan authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
The accused Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr. John Kyovi Mutua, and two other officials, Mr. Elvis Bikundo, a clerk at the Immigration Protocol Office, and Mr. Gared Keburi, a civilian are alleged to have orchestrated a sophisticated plot to illegally secure U.S. visas for individuals posing as Kenyan government employees.
The inquiry, which began in March 2023, uncovered that the trio forged diplomatic notes for 19 individuals from different government agencies, including the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
These falsified documents were submitted to the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section in Nairobi, with the intention of securing U.S. visas for the individuals listed.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), only six of the 19 individuals who were named in the documents were actually legitimate employees of the Government of Kenya.
The remaining 13 were part of the fraudulent scheme, with the accused officials allegedly receiving payments of up to Sh600,000 from each of these individuals, who were duped into believing the forged documents would facilitate their travels to various U.S. cities, including Washington, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
The investigation was triggered when the U.S. Embassy raised concerns after noticing irregularities in the diplomatic notes.
The embassy’s Consular Section grew suspicious when they identified that some of the individuals listed were not registered government employees.
This prompted the U.S. diplomats to collaborate with the DCI, leading to the subsequent probe into the matter.
DCI sources stated that the scheme involved not only government officials but also a civilian accomplice, Mr. Gared Keburi, who is believed to have played a crucial role in facilitating the financial transactions related to the fraudulent operation.
The investigation revealed that the entire operation generated tens of millions of shillings, much of which was channeled into personal bank accounts linked to the suspects.
The three individuals were charged with multiple counts of forgery, conspiracy to commit a felony, and other related offenses under Kenyan law. During their arraignment at Kibera Law Court, the suspects were granted a cash bail of Sh50,000 each.
The case is expected to continue, with further investigations ongoing to determine the full extent of the scheme and whether more individuals may be implicated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment officially on the matter, but the investigation has raised concerns about the integrity of the diplomatic processes within the ministry.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of diplomatic and immigration systems to fraud and the critical role of vigilance and cooperation between governments in curbing such practices.
If convicted, the three officials could face significant legal penalties, including imprisonment and fines. The DCI has pledged to continue its efforts to uncover any other individuals or networks involved in this criminal enterprise.
