Written By Faith Mwende
A final group of Kenyan nationals who had been trapped in human trafficking networks in Myanmar arrived safely in Nairobi over the weekend, bringing closure to weeks of distress in the hands of international fraud cartels.
On Saturday, 78 survivors of trafficking were received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a coordinated repatriation mission led by the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 47 individuals arrived in the early hours of the morning, with an additional 31 landing shortly after 12:30 PM via Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, was on-site to welcome the group back to Kenya. Once processed by immigration officials, the returnees were scheduled to provide statements to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), offering insight into the networks that lured them overseas.
In emotional accounts shared with Citizen TV, some victims detailed the horrific conditions they endured, including forced labor, constant threats, and physical abuse by their captors whenever they failed to meet work quotas in what were described as “scam compounds.”
This marks the second successful rescue in recent weeks, following the return of 48 other Kenyans from the Thailand–Myanmar border earlier in March. In total, over 120 Kenyans have now been rescued from similar trafficking setups in the region.
Investigations have revealed that many of the victims had been duped into believing they were securing well-paying jobs abroad, only to find themselves enslaved in elaborate online scam operations. A significant number of those affected were women under the age of 35.
In light of these events, government officials have intensified warnings against deceptive job offers abroad, especially in countries like Thailand, India, and Malaysia.
“There are no jobs waiting for you in these countries. Many of them are facing their own unemployment challenges,” PS Njogu warned via her official X account earlier this year. “If someone is promising you work there, it’s likely a trap. Report them.”
Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad have been advised to thoroughly vet job offers and consult with the Diaspora Affairs Office for verification before making any travel arrangements.
