Police swoop nets 175 foreigners in city

By Cyrus Ombati and Judy Ogutu

Police continued with operations on illegal immigrants in Nairobi, netting 175 suspects.

This brought the number of foreigners netted in operations that were launched at the weekend to more than 500.

Those arrested on Monday night were found in Eastleigh and South C, Nairobi. Police said they will continue with the operation to get rid of illegal immigrants who they say pose a security threat.

Officers who were holding the foreigners denied the operation is linked to last Friday twin blasts in the city that killed three police officers and injured two others.

Nairobi Area PPO Anthony Kibuchi said they had discovered there are many illegal immigrants who have not registered with authorities as the law requires.

"They should register with the immigration officials or else they will be arrested, taken to court and deported," warned Kibuchi.

The police boss added that the foreign nationals who included women were being interrogated by immigration officials and would appear in court this morning.

The operations were mounted after intelligence reports showed hundreds of foreigners had sneaked into the city and other parts of the country without papers.

The issue was discussed at a meeting that was called by Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere and AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua at the weekend. Police commanders in the city attended the meeting that also discussed security measures ahead of the Christmas.

Intelligence

Both Iteere and Mbugua told those in attendance to make use of intelligence provided to check crime levels that they, however, argued were manageable. "Patrols will be intensified this season to ensure we have a good period. We also want the public to support us," said Iteere.

Meanwhile, 45 foreigners have pleaded guilty to charges of being in Kenya illegally.

They were each fined Sh20,000 or three months jail term in default, after which they would be deported to Ethiopia. Senior Principal Magistrate Lucy Nyambura handed them the sentences yesterday.

The court heard that they were arrested in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate and taken to Muthaiga Police Station. They were taken to court on Monday, but they could not plead to the charges because the charge sheet was defective.