48 Kenyans rescued from Myanmar arrive home as 77 await their turn

A group of 48 Kenyans who had been stranded in Myanmar has arrived safely in the country after being rescued by the government.

The returnees landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday at 6 a.m. aboard a Kenya Airways flight.

A multi-agency team led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received them upon arrival.

Authorities conducted medical and security checks before allowing them to reunite with their families.

Some of those rescued were in poor condition, officials confirmed

Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand Lindsay Kiptiness said embassy officials in Thailand had received the group at Friendship Bridge 2, on the Thailand-Myanmar border, on Friday morning.

From there, they were transported to Bangkok before flying to Nairobi.

Despite the successful rescue, 77 other Kenyans remain stranded in Myanmar, uncertain when they will be able to return home.

Many are stuck at KK Park near the Thailand border, where conditions continue to worsen. They have urged the government to speed up efforts to bring them back, expressing fears for their safety and well-being.

The Kenyan embassy in Thailand has received another verified list of 36 Kenyans awaiting authorization from Myanmar and Thailand to cross the border.

However, the remaining 77 have yet to begin the process, leaving uncertainty over their repatriation.

Authorities in Thailand, China, and Myanmar had earlier dismantled scam centers along the border, where thousands of foreigners had been forced into labor.

However, the repatriation process remains complex, especially for citizens of countries without embassies in Thailand.