27 Ethiopian immigrants illegally smuggled to Kenya repatriated to their country

A Nairobi court has ordered the repatriation of about 27 Ethiopian immigrants who were arrested in the city.

The five girls and 22 men, aged between 12 and 36, are suspected to have been smuggled into the country against their will.

Some of the them were identified as Yusefe Dele Talato, Tamagen Fikire Gudso and Werdu Wollda Igado.

The immigrants did not understand any of the Kenyan national languages and could not produce any documentation regarding their status.

They were then taken to Buru Buru police station, where they revealed their documents were taken by brokers who left them stranded in Eastleigh.

In a sworn affidavit, the investigating officer told the court the Ethiopians accessed the country through an ungazetted route.

He said they each paid 3,000 Birr before leaving Ethiopia and surrendering their passports.

While seeking repatriation orders, the officer told the court “the victims have no fixed abode and if set free, they might be free from the jurisdiction of the court bearing in mind the severity of the offence.”

“I pray this court to issue me with repatriation orders for the respondents to be taken back to their country, Ethiopia,” the officer stated.