Authorities in West Pokot are investigating a suspected case of human trafficking after 108 Eritrean nationals were found abandoned in the Lokitonyala area at the Kenya–Uganda border on Saturday.
The group, which comprises women, men, and 13 minors, is currently being held at Alale Police Station.
Plans are underway to transport them to Kapenguria Police Station for further questioning.
Confirming the incident, Alale Assistant County Commissioner Maurice Ogweno stated that the Eritreans were allegedly transported from Uganda and abandoned at the border by unknown individuals using two buses. “We have 108 Eritrean nationals, including 13 minors. They were dropped off at Lokitonyala from Uganda on Saturday evening,” Ogweno said.
“We are now working with immigration officials and security agencies to understand the circumstances that led to their arrival.”
According to initial investigations, the migrants revealed that they had fled Eritrea to Ethiopia, where they were approached by an individual who promised to help them travel to Nairobi via West Pokot County.
“They said a person in Ethiopia misled them with promises of jobs and safe passage to Nairobi. However, after reaching Uganda, they were intercepted, transported in two buses and abandoned,” Ogweno added.
Authorities suspect that the migrants may be victims of a human trafficking syndicate operating across the Horn of Africa.
“They claimed they were seeking asylum and had been misinformed about employment opportunities,” Ogweno said.
“We are also questioning how and why Ugandan authorities allowed or facilitated their transportation and abandonment on the border.”
