Over 1,100 Kenyans trafficked to Southeast Asia, Mudavadi reveals

Prime CS Mudavadi before Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations at Parliament on March 2, 2026. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has lifted the lid on the plight of Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad, revealing that 1,117 Kenyans have been trafficked into the Golden Triangle since 2022.

The Golden Triangle is the border region where Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand meet along the Mekong River, and has become a major human trafficking hub.

Another 252 Kenyans are also trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war, with the government stating it is still coming to terms with the full extent of the crisis. Sixteen Kenyans have been classified as missing, with their fate unknown.

Appearing before the National Assembly plenary, Mudavadi expressed concern over the continued illegal recruitment of Kenyans into the Golden Triangle.

“Since 2022, there has been a notable increase in the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into the Golden Triangle region of Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. Kenyan youth have become increasingly targeted due to the high demand for overseas employment and opportunities in technology, finance, service sectors and digital skills,” he told the House.

He revealed that, over the last four years, more than 751 Kenyans have been rescued from Myanmar. Of these, 615 have been repatriated, while 39 were imprisoned for illegal entry and repeat involvement in cybercrime. About 97 others who crossed into Thailand are being held in an immigration detention centre awaiting deportation.

Prime CS Mudavadi before Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations at Parliament on March 2, 2026. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

From Cambodia, 323 Kenyans were rescued between January and March 2026, with 234 successfully repatriated. The remaining 89 are in the process of being returned, even as more victims continue to be rescued.

Mudavadi noted that 29 Kenyans have also been repatriated from Laos (Lao PDR), while 14 were imprisoned in Thailand for possessing forged immigration stamps.

“Over time, three Kenyans have reportedly lost their lives in the scam compounds,” he said.

According to documents tabled before the House, the Cabinet Secretary, who also holds the Foreign Affairs docket, explained that recruitment is carried out by rogue individuals or unregistered travel agencies posing as legitimate recruiters, including through online platforms.

They lure job seekers using fake advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and WhatsApp, as well as job websites and referrals.

Victims are promised opportunities in fields such as IT, customer care, cryptocurrency trading and casino operations, with salaries of Sh100,000 and above.

These agencies rely on rerouting tactics, where victims are flown to nearby countries such as Thailand and Malaysia before being transported by road to remote Special Economic Zones in Myanmar, Laos or Cambodia, where the scam operations are based.

Once trafficked, victims are subjected to constant surveillance and confinement, often monitored around the clock with limited freedom of movement or communication. They also endure physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, electric shocks and intimidation.

“They are forced to participate in online fraud schemes, including making fraudulent calls, sending deceptive messages, or manipulating victims online, often under threat of harm to themselves or their families,” the report states.