Evelyn Cheluget is now at the center of a serious scandal at Kenya’s Immigration Services after reports showed that Kenyan passports were issued to Sudanese war figures linked to violence and international sanctions.
As the Director General, Cheluget is the person ultimately responsible for what happens in the department, and this case has raised hard questions about leadership, control, and accountability.
According to investigations reported by The Standard, Kenyan passports were issued to Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo Musa, widely known as Hemedti, and to his younger brother Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Hemedti leads the Rapid Support Forces, a group accused of serious crimes during Sudan’s civil war. These passports allowed them to travel and conduct business despite efforts by the international community to restrict their movement.
What makes the issue more troubling is how the documents were processed. Investigations point to deliberate actions inside the immigration system. Biometric checks that should block fraud were ignored.
Application records were altered. Digital traces were deleted. In some cases, the identities of children were reportedly used to hide the real applicants. These steps could not have been done casually. They suggest planning and approval from senior officials who understood the risks.
This situation places Evelyn Cheluget in a difficult position. The responsibility falls on her office. The public wants to know how such sensitive cases passed through the system without being flagged.
There is also concern about who benefited and what was exchanged to make this possible. So far, official responses have been slow and unclear, which has only increased public anger and suspicion.
The damage goes beyond one department. Issuing Kenyan passports to people accused of war crimes affects the country’s reputation.
It sends a message that Kenya can be used as a safe route for those trying to escape international pressure from bodies like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
A passport is not just a travel document. It represents trust, identity, and national protection. When that trust is abused, the whole system is weakened.
The report also suggests this may not be an isolated case. Other controversial names have been linked to similar processes, including Wicknell Chivayo. This points to a wider problem inside immigration, where rules meant to protect the country were bypassed for powerful or wealthy outsiders.
Evelyn Cheluget now carries the burden of restoring trust.
The immigration system needs strong reforms, tighter checks, and open reporting. Those who abused their positions must face the law.
Without this, the damage to Kenya’s security and image will continue, and confidence in public institutions will keep falling.
