Final batch of 78 Kenyans rescued from Myanmar scams arrives at JKIA
A total of 78 Kenyans who had been trapped in scam operations in Myanmar arrived in Nairobi on Saturday in the final leg of a government-led repatriation exercise.
Their return follows efforts by the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand, which coordinated the rescue and travel logistics.
The group arrived in two batches. The first cohort of 47 landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in the morning, while the second batch of 31 touched down shortly after noon aboard an Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, received the final group at the airport.
The returnees were cleared at the airport and are set to provide statements to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to help explain how they ended up in Myanmar.
Speaking to Citizen TV, some of the returnees described facing brutal treatment from the scammers, especially when they failed to meet their demands.
Their testimonies revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse at the hands of human trafficking syndicates.
This operation concludes a broader rescue mission, which also saw 48 Kenyans repatriated two weeks ago after being rescued at the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
Many of the victims had initially travelled in search of jobs that turned out to be fake promises used to lure unsuspecting individuals into forced labor.
The government has warned Kenyans looking for employment abroad to ensure they have proper documentation before travelling.
This includes securing a valid work permit or visa and verifying the legitimacy of the job offer with the diaspora office.
"There are no jobs in Thailand, India, or Malaysia. These countries also have unemployment challenges. If someone is recruiting you for a job in any of these places, you’re likely to be a victim of trafficking. Run! And report them to us," PS Njogu said in a post on X dated January 24, 2025.
The return of the 78 Kenyans marks the end of a painful chapter, even as authorities continue to warn citizens against falling prey to fraudulent recruiters and false promises of employment overseas.