Wednesday, December 10, 2014
GARISSA (Xinhua) -- Government has decried increased movement of aliens from neighboring countries and warned bus owners and other human traffickers who facilitate the movement of aliens in the East African nation.
Garissa County Commissioner Rashid Khator said anybody found colluding with the aliens to facilitate their movement would face the full force of law.
"We do not want our security to be compromised by a few selfish individuals who are only interested in furthering selfish agenda," Khator said.
His remarks came after security forces arrested some 22 aliens, believed to be from Somalia.
The suspects were arrested at a local police barrier on Monday.
Khator said a contingent of police officers arrested the aliens who were traveling to Nairobi from the border town of Liboi. He added that upon search, it was established that the 22 did not any proper documentation.
"As Kenyans we need to be patriotic enough and compliment the work done by our security officers to secure us but not make it difficult for them," he said.
Khator said the group, which mainly consisted of men, will be taken to court and charged for being in the country illegally before being repatriated back to their home country.
The government official said security has been beefed up in Garissa town in the last two weeks following the attacks in Mandera that claimed 64 lives. Searches in buses have also been increased.
Despite the enhanced security, hundreds of aliens still manage to sneak in and travel to their destinations after paying money to brokers who closely with bus owners.
The immigrants are said to be using Kenya as their transit route to other countries such as South Africa or other European countries.
The Kenyan authorities have blamed the vastness of the region for the runaway influx of foreigners in to Kenya through Moyale on Kenya-Ethiopia borders.
Refugee rights organizations and aid agencies have blamed poverty in Africa for the rising cases of human trafficking.
They said that the huge supply of labor both skilled and unskilled makes them vulnerable to criminal syndicates.