Immigration Authorities Investigate How Top Somali Gov't Official Acquired Multiple Kenyan Passports, ID

Kenyan authorities have commenced a probe to establish how a top Somali government official acquired Kenyan citizenship. 

Ahmed Fahad Dahir, the deputy director of Somali Intelligence Agency allegedly holds multiple Kenyan passports and an ID card with contradicting birth dates. He reportedly uses the Kenyan passports to travel abroad.

Dahir alias Fahad Yasin claims he was born in Mandera, Kenya on July 19th 1978 but his Somalia identity card, which was issued in 2017 indicates he was born in Somalia.

His Kenyan ID card shows he was born on April 5th, 1978 and the document was issued in 2001 in Mandera East Constituency.

On Monday, Immigration Principal Secretary Maj Gen (Rtd) Gordon Kihalang’wa Monday confirmed probe into the matter is ongoing.

“We got this information and we are trying to investigate the details of the documents and how they were acquired by the individual,” Mr Kihalang’wa said.

Director of Immigration Alexander Muteshi said although Somalia law provides for dual citizenship, the fact that Dahir holds such a sensitive position raises more questions than answers.

“Our investigative team is already on the ground to establish the veracity of the documents. What I know is that the Somali laws just like Kenya’s, provide for dual citizenship but how they go in terms holding a senior position in their government, I may not know,” Mr Muteshi said.

Muqdisho online, a popular news website in Somalia says Dahir lived in Kenya prior to being hired as the campaign manager of Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Faarmajo.

The site further claims that he has previously worked for Aljazeera as a reporter and owns several properties in Kenya including a house in one of Nairobi's upmarket residences. He is also allegedly well connected to some Kenyan politicians.