Kenyan Opposition Calls for Investigation After Passport Issued to Brother of Sanctioned Sudanese Commander

A fresh political storm has broken out in Kenya after reports surfaced that authorities issued a passport to Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, the younger brother of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti and commander of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.

David Maraga, former chief justice and now presidential candidate for the United Green Movement party, wasted no time in speaking out. In a strongly worded statement on February 26, he demanded an immediate and thorough probe, warning that the move could seriously harm Kenya’s reputation and its claimed neutrality in the Sudanese conflict.

The Rapid Support Forces have faced repeated accusations of serious human rights violations during the civil war that erupted in April 2023. Dagalo Musa himself operates as a Dubai-based businessman and senior logistics figure within the group. Both he and his brother are under sanctions from the United States Treasury and the European Union. Maraga described the passport issuance, reportedly under number AK1586127, as far more than a simple mistake. He called it a potential constitutional crisis that could signal deeper issues within Kenya’s immigration system.

He went further, urging the government to cancel the document right away if the reports prove true. Maraga also called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to examine how this happened and whether any senior officials played a role. He stressed that no one should be above accountability.

The claims come at a sensitive time. Kenya has worked hard to position itself as a mediator in Sudan through the IGAD regional body. Yet Sudanese military leaders have long accused Nairobi of being too close to RSF figures, including claims that President William Ruto hosted members of the Dagalo family. These latest allegations only add fuel to those concerns and could make future peace talks more complicated.

At its core, the issue raises bigger questions about how countries balance diplomacy, security, and moral responsibility when dealing with parties in active conflicts. A passport is more than travel paper. It represents trust and belonging. Handing one out lightly, especially to someone tied to a sanctioned group, risks eroding that trust both at home and across the region