Three Kenyans missing in Myanmar as embassy warns of rising trafficking risks

The Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, has issued a warning to Kenyan citizens about the increasing trend of being lured to conflict-ridden Myanmar and Laos under the guise of securing jobs, particularly in scamming operations.

This comes as the embassy confirms that three Kenyans are currently missing in Myanmar, a country plagued by escalating crimes against humanity and war crimes, as highlighted by recent warnings from United Nations investigators.

In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the embassy, which covers Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Myanmar, expressed growing concern and frustration over the situation.

The embassy noted that despite numerous warnings, Kenyans continue to fall victim to human traffickers in Myanmar and Laos, often under the false promise of jobs in Thailand.

"The Embassy and Kenyans in Thailand were left with the burden of looking for resources to repatriate the remains back home for burial, while the traffickers are free in the streets enjoying their ill-gotten money," the statement read, referring to a recent case where a Kenyan died in her room in Bangkok from what doctors described as a blood clot.

The embassy, led by Ambassador Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole, highlighted the dangers involved in rescuing individuals from scam operations in Myanmar and Laos, particularly due to the ongoing civil war and the criminal networks operating in the region.

"Extracting people from the scam factories inside Myanmar and Lao PDR is an extremely dangerous and risky business," the statement emphasised.

Since 2022, the embassy has successfully rescued over 140 Kenyans and other Africans from trafficking situations in Myanmar and Laos, repatriating them back to their home countries.

However, the embassy lamented that "despite many warnings to Kenyans through various media channels, Kenyans still stream to Myanmar, mainly through Thailand."

The statement also pointed out that some of the trafficked Kenyans have become trafficking agents themselves, working on behalf of criminal cartels.

"Even more frustrating is the fact that some of the Kenyans working in the scam compounds in Myanmar have become trafficking agents," the embassy noted.

The embassy further detailed the tactics used by traffickers, including the sale of overpriced and often fake visas, with some victims paying up to Sh300,000 for a Thai tourist visa that should cost between Sh8,000 and Sh10,000.

Once in Thailand, victims often find that the promised jobs do not exist, leaving them stranded and destitute.

"Some of the trafficked Kenyans have ended up destitute in Bangkok, sleeping in the streets and begging for food from strangers," the statement revealed.

It also noted the rise in trafficking for prostitution, with young girls from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda being trafficked by fellow East Africans and auctioned online.

The embassy's warning is a call for increased vigilance among Kenyans and a reminder of the dangerous consequences of falling prey to these trafficking networks.