The last group of 78 Kenyans who were trapped in cyber-scam compounds in Myanmar has safely returned home, capping off a months-long repatriation effort led by the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand.
A batch of 47 Kenyans touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) early Saturday morning, followed by 31 more who arrived around 12:30 PM via Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa. The Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, was at JKIA to receive the final group.
The returnees are expected to give statements to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detail how they ended up in Myanmar. Many of them described being subjected to brutal torture by the scammers when they failed to meet demands.
Their harrowing rescue follows a similar operation two weeks ago when another 48 Kenyans were rescued near the Thailand-Myanmar border. Many of the victims were lured with fake promises of high-paying jobs, only to be trafficked and forced into cybercrime operations.
The government has since intensified warnings to job seekers about the dangers of falling for overseas employment scams. PS Njogu reiterated the call for Kenyans to confirm job offers with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and ensure they have the proper documentation before traveling abroad.
“There are no jobs in Thailand, India, or Malaysia,” she cautioned earlier this year. “If someone promises you one, run—and report them to us.”
The government continues to investigate the syndicates behind these trafficking rings.
