Kenya repatriates 119 Kenyans stranded in Myanmar

By Newsflash Writer

Kenya has repatriated 119 nationals who were stranded in illegal scam compounds in Myanmar, as the government intensifies efforts to address the growing challenge of transnational cybercrime targeting jobseekers abroad.

In a statement issued on Monday, December 22, 2025, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) said the repatriations followed coordinated raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups that dismantled scam camps in remote border areas near Thailand. The government noted that efforts are continuing to secure the return of nearly 200 more Kenyans still stranded in Myanmar and neighbouring countries.

The illegal compounds, mainly located in Karen State along the Thailand–Myanmar border, were operated by criminal syndicates involved in large-scale online fraud. These groups recruited workers globally, including Kenyans, often through false job promises. Some of the facilities were reportedly protected by armed rebel groups, complicating rescue and evacuation efforts.

From raids to rescue operations

According to the SDDA, Myanmar authorities conducted a major crackdown on the scam compounds in September 2025, resulting in arrests, seizures, demolitions and violent clashes between government forces and rival rebel factions. In the chaos that followed, criminal operators fled, abandoning hundreds of foreign workers.

More than 200 Kenyans were left stranded and sought shelter in military facilities in areas such as Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while over 100 others crossed into Thailand. Upon receiving an initial list of 126 affected Kenyans, the Kenyan government, through the SDDA and the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok, moved swiftly to coordinate their evacuation.

Measures taken included forming WhatsApp groups to link evacuees with their next of kin for real-time updates, negotiating discounted group fares with Kenya Airways, issuing Emergency Travel Documents to those without passports, and coordinating safe passage through the Thai–Myanmar Second Friendship Bridge. The SDDA also covered transport and logistical costs to airports.

So far, 119 Kenyans have returned home, while seven others are awaiting rebooking following last-minute flight cancellations. On arrival in Kenya, returnees are interviewed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) to support investigations aimed at dismantling the syndicates behind the scams. Psychosocial support is also being provided to affected individuals and their families.

Hundreds still stranded, government raises concern

The government estimates that 198 Kenyans are still awaiting repatriation, including 66 held at Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre, 129 in military shelters in Myanmar, and three housed at a Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Repatriation has been slowed by border closures during the festive season, with departures expected to resume afterward.

The SDDA revealed that 86 Kenyans initially declined to cooperate with authorities, demanding government-funded tickets and spreading misinformation online, but later shared next-of-kin details on December 19, 2025, allowing arrangements to begin.

The statement raised concern over emerging patterns, noting that most of those stranded entered Thailand on tourist visas clearly marked “employment prohibited.” Many reportedly insisted they were travelling for tourism when questioned at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Some had also bypassed earlier government evacuation efforts, including a major rescue in March 2025, only to return knowingly to scam operations.

Despite sustained public awareness campaigns, many admitted they were aware of the fraudulent nature of the jobs. The government warned that blanket rescues risk encouraging illegal migration and urged Kenyans to heed travel advisories, exercise personal responsibility, and report rogue recruitment agents.