Busia county commissioner Stephen Orinde addresses residents during a public Baraza at Malaba Health Centre grounds on Friday/HILTON OTENYOResidents of Teso North in Busia county should beware of rising cases of smuggling of illegal immigrants and human trafficking across porous borders, the International Organisation for Migration has said.
IOM expert Lawrence Kimiti said many Kenyans, especially young people seeking employment abroad, fall victim to these syndicates after being lured by false promises of better opportunities.
Kimiti said smuggled immigrants become victims of sexual exploitation, forced labour, contract fraud, violence and abuses in the foreign nations they find themselves in.
“Residents should verify employment contracts, understand labour terms and ensure proper documentation, such as work permits when travelling abroad,” he said.
Kimiti cautioned residents against travelling on tourist visas without work permits, saying this could amount to fraud and increase vulnerability to exploitation.
He spoke during a public baraza convened by Busia county commissioner Stephen Orinde to educate residents of Teso North subcounty on strengthening collaboration between residents and security agencies at the busy border town of Malaba.
The meeting was held at Malaba Health Centre grounds. It brought together members of the public, police officers and National Government Administrative Officers, including chiefs, assistant chiefs and Nyumba Kumi representatives.
Paul Songok from DCI headquarters urged residents to remain vigilant against terrorism-related activities and report suspicious incidents to NGAO officers or police stations for action.
Residents expressed fear of being victimised for sharing information about illicit activities at the border with security agencies.
They also raised concerns over alleged slow police response to distress calls due to claims of shortages of fuel and demanded for increased police patrol vehicles in Teso North.
They claimed that police respond faster to cases of illicit brew than to violent crime.
The county commissioner said security agencies were committed to improving trust, response time and community engagement to enhance security, adding that a strong collaboration between residents and security agencies was critical for an effective war on crime.
He assured residents that police value community intelligence and confidentiality, urging them to work closely with NGAO officers and embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative in the fight against crime.
The county commissioner said neighbourhood awareness plays a key role in crime prevention.
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