AHundreds of Kenyans who were trafficked to scam compounds in Myanmar for forced criminal activities have been repatriated.

Since the beginning of 2025, the government, through its Embassy in Bangkok, has brought back 153 Kenyans.

The number includes 26 victims rescued and repatriated on February 22, 49 on March 22, and 78 on April 5.

“The 153 rescued Kenyans were among the over 7,000 individuals from different nationalities rescued from the scam compounds in Myanmar after a multi-national rescue operation with the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand,” Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Kathure Njogu (pictured), said.

Between 2022 and December 2024, the government rescued and repatriated 150 Kenyan victims of human trafficking from the “Golden Triangle” region of East Asia, the PS said.

“These individuals were lured into Myanmar under false pretenses of employment and lucrative jobs, only to face forced labor and exploitation after being trapped in scam operations,” she said in a statement released yesterday.
She added: “Upon arrival, the victims receive a warm welcome from a multi-agency team, including the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Counter-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, security agencies, and in collaboration with HAART Kenya, an NGO dedicated to fighting human trafficking in Eastern Africa.”

The victims are provided with counseling and psychological support to address the trauma experienced during their ordeal.

Victims have reported severe punishments, including electric shocks, physical beatings, and even organ harvesting.

The PS urged Kenyans to take human trafficking seriously, verify employment offers, especially those requiring upfront fees, only use licensed agencies for job placements on the National Employment Authority portal and obtain passports through official channels.

Kenyans were further implored upon to ernsure appropriate visas for travel, report suspicious activities to local authorities or embassies and authenticate all job offers through the State Department for Diaspora Affair and Kenya Embassy Bangkok, in any job promised in Thailand.

The PS said the rescue efforts were facilitated through government-to-government collaboration with Thailand and Myanmar, with our Embassy in Bangkok playing a crucial role.

“We appreciate the support from Kenya Airways, HAART Kenya, and all partners involved in providing travel logistics, shelter and psychosocial support. Special thanks to the multi-agency coordination team, Kenya Airports Authority, and the media for highlighting these stories.”

She warned that there were currently no job opportunities for Kenyans in the ‘Golden Triangle’ in South East Asia.

“Any recruitment agency or agent purporting to have job opportunities in the region should be treated as human traffickers and immediately reported to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the nearest police station,” the PS cautioned.