The Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for West Pokot County, George Mutonya, has announced that criminals orchestrating a counterfeit birth certificate operation have been exposed.
The DCI said that operating primarily in Kacheliba Sub County and Kapenguria town, this criminal syndicate has fabricated no less than 41 fake birth certificates, complete with serial numbers and sophisticated forgery techniques.
“The perpetrators, including some youth and complicit government officials within the Ministry of Education and Social Services, have been meticulously imitating signatures and official seals,” he added.
Mutonya further noted that the impact of this illicit enterprise extends beyond the sheer production of counterfeit birth certificates.
“These fraudulent documents serve as tools for gaining admission to schools and facilitate various forms of fraud and misrepresentation before both public and private institutions,” he stated.
Additionally, the DCI said that residents have been grappling with significant challenges in obtaining authentic birth certificates, largely due to bureaucratic hurdles and alleged corruption within the registration offices.
Consequently, he highlighted that many Kenyans have resorted to paying substantial bribes to acquire these essential documents, further exacerbating the issue.
Mutonya further noted that investigations are in advanced stages, aimed at bringing all individuals involved in this counterfeit certificate syndicate to justice.
He also urged the residents to visit official Government offices for legitimate documentation, while also calling on those who possess counterfeit certificates to voluntarily surrender them to the authorities.
By Evans Kapusia
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