Police Detain 24 Ethiopian Migrants Abandoned in Kenya

Isiolo County, Kenya - Kenyan police have detained 24 Ethiopians who were reportedly abandoned in a bush in north-eastern Isiolo county, according to local media. The group sought help at a local police station in the Merti area after their suspected smugglers deserted them this past Sunday.

The migrants reported that the smugglers abandoned them to avoid roadblocks set up along the Isiolo-Nairobi highway, a common route used for smuggling activities.

The immigrants told the police that they were in transit to South Africa, having already crossed the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

Currently, the 24 Ethiopians are being held in police custody and are awaiting arraignment for being in Kenya illegally. Authorities are actively pursuing the smugglers involved in this case.

Kenya is frequently used as a transit route by Ethiopian migrants attempting to reach South Africa, often facing perilous journeys facilitated by smuggling networks. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by migrants and the authorities in managing and preventing illegal immigration and human trafficking within the region.