The Kenyan government brought home over a hundred citizens tricked into working for online scam centers in Southeast Asia. A statement from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs confirmed the return of 119 people from Myanmar, while hundreds more remain stranded in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. They were recruited with fake job offers by criminal networks operating in border areas like Karen State.
Recent raids on these scam hubs by authorities and rebel groups left many workers abandoned. Some fled to military shelters or crossed into Thailand. Officials activated emergency measures, coordinating with Kenya Airways for flights and Thai authorities for safe passage. Upon arrival, returnees are interviewed by the Transnational Organised Crime Unit and offered psychosocial support.
Currently, 198 Kenyans still await evacuation, with many in Thai detention or Myanmar shelters. The government noted that some individuals in shelters initially requested state-funded travel, but clarified that citizens who knowingly take illegal work abroad must pay for their own return. They warned against job offers that promise to convert tourist visas, calling them a major red flag. Efforts continue with embassies and local authorities to complete the remaining repatriations.
Recent raids on these scam hubs by authorities and rebel groups left many workers abandoned. Some fled to military shelters or crossed into Thailand. Officials activated emergency measures, coordinating with Kenya Airways for flights and Thai authorities for safe passage. Upon arrival, returnees are interviewed by the Transnational Organised Crime Unit and offered psychosocial support.
Currently, 198 Kenyans still await evacuation, with many in Thai detention or Myanmar shelters. The government noted that some individuals in shelters initially requested state-funded travel, but clarified that citizens who knowingly take illegal work abroad must pay for their own return. They warned against job offers that promise to convert tourist visas, calling them a major red flag. Efforts continue with embassies and local authorities to complete the remaining repatriations.
