Police rescue 70 victims from suspected human trafficking ring
By Mustafa Juma, March 5, 2026Seventy people have been rescued by the Kenyan police officers from a suspected human trafficking ring.
The Kenya Police Service, in a statement issued on Thursday, March 5, 2025, noted that the 70 victims had been locked inside a house in Ruai, Nairobi.
According to the police, the officers busted the suspected human trafficking syndicate while acting on a tip-off.
“Acting on a tip-off, officers busted a suspected human trafficking syndicate and rescued 70 victims who had been locked inside a house in Ruai, Nairobi,” the statement read in part.
The police further noted that the victims included 66 Ethiopians and four Eritreans. During the raid, the police arrested one Kenyan national whom they have linked to the syndicate.
“The victims include 66 Ethiopians and 4 Eritreans. One Kenyan suspect was arrested in connection with the case,” the Kenya Police Service stated.
While warning that human trafficking is a serious crime, the police have urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the relevant government authorities.
“Human trafficking is a serious crime. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities,” the police stated.
Russia–Ukraine war
This comes days after National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah lifted the lid on what he termed a deeply disturbing network of rogue state officials colluding with human trafficking syndicates to recruit and transport Kenyans to fight in the Russia–Ukraine war.
Addressing the House on February 19, 2026, the Kikuyu MP disclosed that a joint investigation by the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had uncovered collusion involving officers drawn from immigration, security agencies, and even Kenya’s foreign missions.
“There has been collusion between officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Directorate of Immigration Services, and the National Employment Authority,” Ichung’wah told MPs.
Ichung’wah told the House that more than 1,000 Kenyans have reportedly been recruited and trafficked to Russia since the war with Ukraine began, many lured by promises of lucrative salaries, hefty bonuses, and foreign citizenship.
Human trafficking menace
Human trafficking remains one of the world’s most pressing human rights issues, affecting millions of vulnerable people across borders.
Each year, the United States Department of State releases its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, ranking governments based on their efforts to combat forced labour, sex trafficking, and modern-day slavery.
In the 2025 edition of the report, Brazil and South Africa were downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List, signalling concerns about declining efforts. Kenya, however, retained its Tier 2 status, a ranking that reflects progress but also highlights persistent gaps that must be urgently addressed.