By Cyrus Ombati
Ninety-five Ethiopians were Wednesday morning arrested near the Kenya/Tanzania border at Namanga as they tried to cross into Tanzania.
The Ethiopians, all men, were in a lorry, which they abandoned and tried to walk on foot across the border hoping to escape detection by border patrol.
They told police their final destination was South Africa where they said they were seeking "greener pastures".
Kajiado deputy OCPD David Mburugua said police and KWS officials who were patrolling the Amboseli National Park nabbed the men.
"They wanted to use a different route through the park into Tanzania when they were arrested. They do not have documents to legalize their presence in Kenya," said Mburugua.
Two of the aliens managed to escape on foot as police approached them in the 2am incident.
The aliens 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 aliens are nabbed in the country while on transit to either Tanzania or South Africa.
It has been established that most of the aliens are brought to the country by merchants at a fee. Police face difficulties in dealing with the aliens because they cannot speak in Swahili and English.
In February police in Taveta arrested 17 Ethiopians for being in the country illegally.
Police said the 17 men were dropped in the area by a lorry and were planning to cross the border to Tanzania on foot.
In January, 27 Ethiopians packed inside a container on a truck were arrested in Mariakani in Mombasa as they were being transported.
In August 2011, 14 Ethiopians and two suspected human traffickers were arrested in Isiolo.
What puzzled police was that the Ethiopians were all found in possession of Kenya national identity cards.
Cases of human trafficking have been on the rise in the region with hundreds of young men from Ethiopia finding their way into South Africa through Kenya in search of employment.
Police in Nairobi said they had instructed commanders in the field to ensure the aliens are stopped and returned to their country.
