Ninety-five Ethiopians were arrested on Wednesday morning
near the Namanga border as they tried to cross to neighbouring Tanzania.
The middle-aged men were in a lorry, which they had abandoned
in favour of walking as they tried to escape detection by border officials.
When questioned by police, they revealed they were headed to
South Africa for ‘greener pastures’.
Kajiado deputy OCPD David Mburugua said the men were nabbed
by police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials on patrol at the Amboseli
National Park.
"They wanted to use a different route through the park
into Tanzania when they were arrested. They do not have documents to legalise
their presence in Kenya," said Mburugua.
Two of the foreigners escaped on foot as police approached
them in the 2am incident. The rest were later driven to Kajiado where they were
expected to face charges of being in the country illegally.
Police and immigration officials have decried increased cases
in which Ethiopian nationals are nabbed in the country while on transit to
either Tanzania or South Africa.
merchants
Most of them are brought to the country by merchants at a
fee. Police often face difficulties in dealing with the foreigners because they
cannot speak in Swahili and English.
In February, police in Taveta arrested 17 Ethiopians for
being in the country illegally. Witnesses said the foreigners had been driven
through illegal routes outside Taveta town at night to evade police arrest.
In January 26, more Ethiopians were arrested in Mariakani
inside a container on a truck as they were being transported. What has puzzled
police is that some of the foreigners are found in possession of Kenya national
identity cards.
Police in Nairobi said on Wednesday that they had instructed
commanders in the field to ensure the trade was stopped and foreigners returned
to their country.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke
No comments:
Post a Comment