26 Ethiopians arrested in Muranga midnight operation

Journalists peep at the gate of a house at Highview estate in Ngumo, Nairobi where several Ethiopian nationals were detained. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Police in Muranga County have arrested 26 Ethiopian nationals believed to be in the country illegally and were in transit to an unknown destination.

The women aged between 22 and 32 years were arrested at a house in Gitongano village in Kiharu, Murang'a, following a tip-off from the public.

In a midnight operation coordinated by the area County Police Commander David Kainga, the aliens could not explain their motive in the locality or their destination due to the language barrier.

Kainga said they have confiscated their passports and 16 mobile phones to aid in investigations.

"We mobilized a multi-agency team and raided the homestead where the individuals were found locked in isolated rooms and they could not explain where they were from or their mission in Murang'a," said Kainga.

Also in custody at Kabirwa Police Station are the homeowner, Phillip Kamwaro Munyua, and a watchman, David Gachengu King'ori.

Mathiu said the police have beefed up patrols on the Sagana- Kenol highway to ensure it is free from human trafficking.

In 2014, the Murang'a County Assembly was asked by the local Nyumba Kumi elders to formulate a law to facilitate an initiative to deal with illegal aliens hosted in the villages, after 27 Ethiopians were caught locked in a house in Kambiti area.

Locals claim the Ethiopians have been in the locality for a week after they were dropped off by vehicles that ferried them from Moyale at the border of Kenya and Ethiopia.