Kenya Warns Her Citizens Against Traveling To Troubled South Asian Country
Following an increase in cases of Kenyans being mistreated in Myanmar, the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand has advised Kenyans not to travel there.
The Embassy was forced to issue the warning after a group of Kenyans living in the Asian country requested assistance after becoming trapped in Myanmar’s infamous scam compounds.
For the past two weeks, Kenyan Embassy officials in Bangkok have been camping at the Myanmar-Thailand border, attempting to negotiate the release of ten Kenyans who have issued a rescue appeal, fearing for their lives.
Despite the Kenyan government’s efforts to lobby for their release, the cartel bosses in Myanmar claim they purchased the Kenyans as slaves for Ksh820,000 (45,000 RMB) per slave.
The Kenya Embassy in Thailand has warned Kenyans, yet again, to stop traveling to Myanmar due to fraud schemes. Many are lured by fake job offers, only to be enslaved by Chinese cartels. Victims are tortured, electrocuted, and confined in dark rooms. pic.twitter.com/oewBKVo3wf
— Mwango Capital (@MwangoCapital) October 12, 2024
The cartels claim that if the government wants the Kenyans to be released, their money, totaling around Ksh1.5 million ($12,000), should be refunded.
“The warning comes as dozens of young Kenyans call out for help from Myanmar’s notorious scam compounds, while others continue to stream in, and becoming slaves of Chinese criminal cartels,” read part of the warning notice.
The embassy has since contacted the families of the ten victims, but the rescue mission faces numerous challenges due to the dangerous conditions in which the victims have been held hostage.
“It is however troubling to note that despite the many warnings in the print and electronic media, young Kenyans continue to travel to Myanmar after paying a colossal sum of money to recruitment agents for non-existent jobs,” noted officials of the Kenyan Embassy to Thailand.
According to the embassy, the victims are forced to work 19 hours per day with only 5 hours of rest, which is mostly spent sleeping.
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Lazy or sickly employees are sold to other companies for up to Ksh94,000 (50,000 Thai Baht) or released.
The Embassy also revealed that it had already obtained a list of another 45 Kenyans working in various scam compounds and those released after paying a ransom.
“Dozens of other Kenyans do not wish to be rescued and have become part of the cartel networks and are being used to traffic other Kenyans for a fee. One Kenyan was recently apprehended in Thailand for being one of the most notorious traffickers,” read part of the statement.
“As a result of the ongoing civil war, most of the scam compounds have come under the control of various insurgent groups, who offer protection to the scamming companies for a fee.”
Kenya Warns Her Citizens Against Traveling To Troubled South Asian Country
