59 migrants rescued in Marsabit anti-traficking operation

The operation began on Saturday after police received intelligence reports indicating that a group of people was being held in a house in Majengo village, Marsabit town.

Marsabit County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo said officers raided the house at around 3 p.m. on Saturday and found 30 people, comprising 23 men and seven women.

Police later received another tip-off that additional individuals believed to be linked to the same group were being held at a farm in the Segel area.

Acting on the information, police officers, in collaboration with the Central Marsabit Multi-Agency security team, conducted a rescue operation and found another 29 people. 

The group comprised 20 men, eight women and a four-year-old child.

The operation brought the total number of people rescued to 59. Of these, five were reported to be Ethiopian nationals, while the remaining 54 were Eritrean nationals.

The migrants are suspected to have entered Marsabit County through unofficial routes commonly known as panya routes, which are often used to evade official security checkpoints.

However, the circumstances surrounding their transportation and the identities of those suspected of facilitating the operation remain unclear, with investigations ongoing.

A caretaker at a house in Majengo estate, Marsabit town, was arrested during the operation in connection with the incident and is reportedly being held by police.

Investigators are working to establish how the migrants were transported into the county and whether other individuals were involved in facilitating their alleged illegal entry.

The 59 migrants are awaiting arraignment in court as police investigations continue.