Police Officers in Mombasa County are detaining 40 Jordanian nationals after they were found begging on Mombasa streets in what seemed to be a foiled human trafficking case.

Residents in Mombasa were shocked to see at least 40 tourists begging on the streets of Old Town on Thursday to raise money for food and transport to allegedly travel to Nairobi.

In a rare occurrence, Jordanian tourists-turned-beggars were spotted at the Marikiti market seeking help after running out of money to buy food and relocate to Nairobi.

Mr Maxwell Agoro, the Mvita Sub-county Police Commander who confirmed the tourists’ arrest, stated that the foreigners had valid tourist visas but their only mistake was to convert into beggars, which violated the terms of their travel documents.

The foreigners were apprehended after locals alerted the police.

According to Mr Agoro, they received information from locals that the foreigners were begging in areas such as Mwembe Tayari, Kibokoni, and Moi Avenue.

There were 19 adults and 21 children among the foreigners.

“Upon finding them the police escorted them to the Central police station for interrogation. They were found to be going against the regulation of the visa by converting themselves to beggars as opposed to being tourists,” he said.

The foreigners are being held at the police station pending further investigation. 

“Their passports have been forwarded to the immigration for further verification.  Determination will be reached after verification of the documents.”

Mr Agoro went on to say that preliminary examination of the documents revealed that they are genuine.

“Although the foreigners have contravened the conditions of the visa,” he added.

Mr Agoro went on to say that the 40 were part of a group of foreigners who were on their way to (Eastleigh) Nairobi but decided to stop in Mombasa to beg.

He stated that before any further action is taken, the foreigners will be taken to the immigration office for processing of their documents.

The foreigners are currently being questioned at the Coast Regional Police Headquarters, where the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over the investigation.