A Kenyan woman faces multiple felony charges in the United States after authorities alleged she forged professional credentials to work as a registered nurse, treating critically ill patients in Arizona hospice facilities. The case against Christine Nyambura Muturi, 41, who also used the name Christine Lewis, has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan diaspora community and raised urgent questions about patient safety and identity fraud in the American healthcare system.

The elaborate deception, according to court documents, began in August 2025 when Muturi was hired by Northern Arizona Hospice (NAZ) in Cottonwood. She allegedly presented a stolen Colorado nursing license belonging to a woman 27 years her senior, and falsely claimed to have years of experience, including as a triage nurse in Las Vegas.

A Deception Uncovered

Muturi’s scheme unraveled when NAZ administrators noticed a glaring discrepancy: the nursing license she provided was issued in 1980, four years before she was born. When confronted, she immediately resigned but had already secured another position at Golden Rose Hospice in Mesa, prompting a police investigation. Investigators later confirmed Muturi has never been a licensed nurse in any US state.

The investigation culminated on November 13, when an undercover agent from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, posing as a new hospice owner, met with Muturi. During the meeting, she again claimed to hold an active nursing license, which provided grounds for her arrest at her home in Mesa.

Stark Consequences and Community Impact

Muturi is now facing a raft of serious charges that could lead to significant prison time and deportation. The felony charges include:

• Forgery
• Fraud Schemes and Artifices
• Practicing Nursing Without a License
• Computer Tampering

In Arizona, a Class 4 felony like forgery or identity theft can carry a presumptive prison sentence of 2.5 years for a first offense. Court records show Muturi was denied bail due to a criminal history that includes arrests for domestic battery and a fugitive-from-justice case.

This incident comes amid growing concerns over healthcare fraud in the U.S., a nation where Arizona has one of the highest rates of identity theft. For the thousands of legitimately qualified Kenyan nurses and healthcare professionals working diligently abroad, such cases risk tarnishing their hard-earned reputation and subjecting them to greater scrutiny.

As Arizona authorities pursue their prosecution, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the severe legal consequences of professional impersonation and the critical need for stringent credential verification in healthcare.