A total of 78 Kenyans who were victims of human trafficking schemes in Myanmar arrived safely at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, completing a government-led repatriation initiative facilitated by the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand.
The group arrived in two batches — 47 individuals landed in the morning, while another 31 followed around midday, traveling via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. The group was received at JKIA by Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
Upon arrival, the returnees were cleared by immigration authorities and are expected to provide formal statements to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). These statements will help Kenyan authorities understand how the victims were trafficked to Southeast Asia and build cases against trafficking networks.
Speaking to the media, some of the returnees shared harrowing experiences of physical abuse and psychological torment endured at the hands of the syndicates behind the scams. They revealed that failure to meet imposed demands led to beatings and other forms of mistreatment.
This operation follows a similar repatriation two weeks earlier, during which 48 Kenyans were rescued at the Thailand-Myanmar border and safely returned home.
What was advertised as high-paying job opportunities in Myanmar turned out to be a cover for a sophisticated human trafficking network targeting unsuspecting job seekers. Kenyan officials have warned citizens against taking overseas job offers without proper documentation.
The government has emphasized that individuals should possess verified work visas or permits before traveling abroad for employment. In addition, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs is urging all prospective migrant workers to authenticate foreign job offers through official channels.
“There are no jobs in Thailand, India, or Malaysia. These countries also face significant unemployment. If someone is offering you a job in these places, it’s likely a trafficking trap. Report them immediately,” PS Njogu warned in a public advisory posted on X on January 24, 2025.
