Kenya repatriates 119 citizens from Southeast Asia scam hubs

Passenger arrivals at a Kenyan airport. /FILE

The government has repatriated 119 Kenyans who had been recruited under false job promises to work in online fraud operations in parts of Southeast Asia, while hundreds of others remain in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

In a press statement on Monday, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) said the repatriations followed recent raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups targeting scam syndicates operating near the Thailand border in Karen State.

Initially, 126 individuals were scheduled for repatriation, but seven had to postpone travel due to last-minute cancellations. The department said efforts are ongoing to bring the remaining Kenyans home safely amid complex regional circumstances.

The SDDA explained that criminal networks had set up scam hubs in remote border areas, recruiting workers globally, including Kenyans, often under false job offers.

Following the raids in September 2025, some operators fled, leaving workers behind. Some sought refuge in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while over 100 crossed into Thailand.

Emergency measures were activated, including establishing WhatsApp groups for next-of-kin updates, coordinating discounted group fares with Kenya Airways, issuing emergency travel documents, and working with Thai authorities to ensure safe transit through the Thai-Myanmar Second Friendship Bridge.

Upon arrival in Kenya, evacuees are interviewed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) to support ongoing investigations. They are also provided psychosocial support for themselves and their families, where needed.

Currently, 198 Kenyans are awaiting repatriation. Of these, 66 are in Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre, and 129 are housed in shelters in Myanmar. The Kenyan embassy in Cambodia is also in contact with three Kenyans staying in a Caritas Catholic safe house.

The SDDA noted that 86 individuals in military shelters initially requested government-funded travel before providing next-of-kin details. The department reiterated that Kenyan citizens who knowingly engage in illegal work abroad are responsible for arranging and funding their return.

“Government-funded rescues for those knowingly participating in illegal activities may undermine travel advisories, safe migration policies, and deterrence against transnational crime,” the statement said. The department emphasised that humanitarian assistance will continue for genuine trafficking victims.

The SDDA also warned against job offers promising conversion of tourist visas into work permits, calling such offers “a clear red flag,” and urged Kenyans to report rogue agents.

The government said it continues to work closely with the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok, Thai and Myanmar authorities, Kenya Airways, TOCU, and families to finalise pending repatriations, stressing adherence to the law, travel advisories, and personal responsibility.