Kenya has brought home 119 citizens from illegal scam operations in Myanmar. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs confirmed the repatriation after local authorities and rebel groups raided compounds in Karen State. These criminal hubs, run by international syndicates, had trapped people with fake job offers.
Despite this success, 198 Kenyans remain stranded across three countries. Sixty-six are held in a Thai immigration detention center, one hundred twenty-nine are in shelters in Myanmar, and three are in a Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Some individuals initially resisted help, requesting free flights and spreading false information online.
The rescue followed multi-agency raids last September that dismantled many fraud centers. The government then worked with its embassy in Bangkok to organize evacuations, negotiating discounted flights and issuing emergency travel documents. Seven people still await rebooking after canceling their trips at the last minute. Returnees face interviews with criminal investigators and receive psychosocial support.
Officials warned of a moral hazard, noting some citizens knowingly entered Thailand on tourist visas to work illegally in these scams, sometimes returning after prior evacuations. They urged people to treat offers to convert tourist visas into work permits as a major red flag. The government reiterated its commitment to citizen welfare abroad while stressing personal responsibility and adherence to travel advisories.
Despite this success, 198 Kenyans remain stranded across three countries. Sixty-six are held in a Thai immigration detention center, one hundred twenty-nine are in shelters in Myanmar, and three are in a Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Some individuals initially resisted help, requesting free flights and spreading false information online.
The rescue followed multi-agency raids last September that dismantled many fraud centers. The government then worked with its embassy in Bangkok to organize evacuations, negotiating discounted flights and issuing emergency travel documents. Seven people still await rebooking after canceling their trips at the last minute. Returnees face interviews with criminal investigators and receive psychosocial support.
Officials warned of a moral hazard, noting some citizens knowingly entered Thailand on tourist visas to work illegally in these scams, sometimes returning after prior evacuations. They urged people to treat offers to convert tourist visas into work permits as a major red flag. The government reiterated its commitment to citizen welfare abroad while stressing personal responsibility and adherence to travel advisories.
