The Kenyan government has once again warned its citizens against traveling to Myanmar.
Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand, Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole, strongly advised Kenyans to refrain from applying for jobs in Myanmar after a significant rise in reports of fraudulent job advertisements online.
Despite multiple warnings regarding the escalating risks of abductions, forced labor, and torture by criminal networks, the embassy expressed concern over the continued applications from Kenyans seeking opportunities in the South Asian country.
“The Kenya embassy in Thailand, once again, warns Kenyans against traveling to Myanmar. This warning comes as dozens of young Kenyans plead for help from Myanmar’s notorious scam compounds, while others continue to arrive and effectively become slaves to Chinese criminal cartels,” Ambassador Kimwole stated in an official release dated October 12, 2024.
The embassy revealed that ten Kenyans remain trapped in Myanmar, with their captors demanding substantial ransoms for their release. The abductors are reportedly seeking millions, insisting they “purchased” the Kenyans as slaves. Rescuing the victims has transformed into a transactional affair, with cartel bosses demanding $12,000 (approximately KSh 1.5 million) for each Kenyan.
“When asked to release the Kenyans, the cartel leaders maintain that they bought them as slaves for 45,000 RMB (KSh 820,420) each. They assert that if the government wishes to secure their freedom, the purchase price must be refunded,” the embassy disclosed.
Sources indicate that intermediaries, including NGOs in Thailand and Kenya, are currently negotiating with a UN agency to facilitate the rescue of trapped Kenyans. This alarming situation surfaced less than two months after five Kenyans were freed from captivity in Myanmar, while another stranded Kenyan tragically died in a hospital.
Thai authorities have charged these individuals with violating immigration laws. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs emphasized that the Kenyans traveled to Myanmar against government policy and reportedly had to pay ransom to regain their freedom.
The embassy reported that it had compiled a list of an additional 45 Kenyans involved in various fraud rings. While some of these individuals managed to escape, others were released only after paying ransom.
Alarmingly, the embassy also found that dozens of Kenyans do not want to be rescued and have instead integrated into the cartel networks that traffic other Kenyans for a fee.
Additionally, the Ministry confirmed that it had collaborated with Thai authorities to rescue 141 Africans, including 108 Kenyans, 19 Ugandans, 11 Ethiopians, one Burundian, one Zimbabwean, and one Senegalese.
“We frequently see job advertisements on social media claiming to offer positions in customer care, translation, and IT in Thailand. However, the Kenyan embassy has consistently warned that these jobs are fraudulent and created by traffickers,” stated Roseline Njogu, the Principal Secretary for Diaspora.
“Kenyans must prioritize their safety by seeking accurate information. If you have questions about job offers in Thailand, Australia, or Poland, our embassy can help verify their legitimacy. We have a dedicated department for this purpose. Please reach out to us before risking your safety.”
