58 Ethiopian nationals en route to South Africa arrested in Kitengela

Kitengela Police boss Joel Munyalo on guard as the more than 58 Ethiopian nationals who were found at New Valey Estate in Kitengela are escorted to a police car on Feb 5, 2025. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard] Police in Kitengela, Kajiado County have arrested 58 Ethiopian nationals suspected to be in transit to South Africa. The 58 were arrested at a maisonette located at New Valley estate following a tip-off by members of the public. Kitengela Police boss Joel Munyalo led a team of Multi-agency from the DCI headquarters and regular officers to repatriate the aliens. The foreigners were brought to the four-bedroom house about 3 days ago in the wee hours of the night waiting to travel to South Africa. Police said 28 aliens are in custody at Kitengela Police Station while the remaining 30 were escorted to Isinya Police Station. All the foreigners appeared very weak and malnourished and were processed and subsequently will be arraigned in court. The police boss said two Kenyans suspected to have been involved with the saga, were also arrested in the crackdown and escorted to Muthaiga Police Station by the DCI officers. A Motorcycle recovered within the compound was confiscated and kept at Kitengela Police Station as an exhibit. The two will be arraigned in a court of law where they will face an offence of human trafficking. Isinya Police boss Patrick Manyasi told the Standard that his officers got a tip from residents. ''My officers who were on the ground received the information and rushed to the scene, they found male adults of Ethiopian origin with no identification documents'' said Manyasi. Manyasi appealed to other members of the public to be given such information without delay saying it will help to beef up security in the town. ''The security of our towns is greatly influenced by crucial information the members of the public give when they come across fishy suspicious characters within residential homes and rental houses, through community policing, we are seeing the number of criminals being arrested increasing thus confidence that security in our country is scaling up,'' said Manyasi. The arrest has created panic in the manner the human trafficking syndicate is increasing. According to police, most of the aliens from Ethiopia use the Moyale route and try their luck as they head to South Africa and the Middle East oblivious of the dangers ahead. Tens of the aliens are usually arrested in various places in the country as they wait to be moved to their next destinations. Most of those arrested come to Kenya to seek jobs or are in transit. Joseph Shitani, a resident of Kitengela says the incidents of human traffic have increased and those involved are using the town as a hideout. ''What is puzzling is how the immigrants manage to evade many police roadblocks mounted from the Moyale border which they use to Nairobi because they travel in groups, there are more than 20 roadblocks on the stretch, which raises the seriousness of the security agents taming the practice'' said Shiani a security expert. He urged the police to treat all information given by members of the public with confidence, thus wananchi should not fear giving information to police and DCI officers regarding criminals and suspicious persons.

58 Ethiopian nationals en route to South Africa arrested in Kitengela

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58 Ethiopian nationals en route to South Africa arrested in Kitengela

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