By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 23 December 2025 - Kenya has brought home 119 of its citizens who were stranded in illegal online scam compounds in Myanmar, closing a painful chapter for families who had waited months for news from a conflict-ravaged region thousands of kilometres away.
In a statement issued on Monday, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs said the returnees were rescued after coordinated raids by Myanmar authorities and armed rebel groups targeting criminal syndicates operating along the Myanmar–Thailand border in Karen State.
The government noted that efforts are ongoing to secure the return of nearly 200 other Kenyans still scattered across Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia.
“These criminal networks had built sophisticated scam hubs in remote border areas, luring workers from across the world, including Kenyans, through false job promises,” the department said. The compounds, often shielded by rebel groups, became flashpoints when Myanmar launched a crackdown in September 2025, triggering arrests, demolitions and violent clashes.
As the operators fled, hundreds of foreign workers were left behind. According to the ministry, more than 200 Kenyans sought refuge in military shelters in towns such as Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while another group crossed into Thailand in search of safety.
The government said it moved quickly after receiving an initial list of affected Kenyans. Working through the Kenya Embassy in Bangkok, officials coordinated travel documents, transport and safe passage, while also creating WhatsApp groups to keep families informed in real time.
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“We negotiated discounted group fares with Kenya Airways, issued emergency travel documents and coordinated with Thai authorities to ensure safe transit,” the statement said, adding that the government also covered key logistics costs.
On arrival in Nairobi, the returnees were interviewed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Transnational Organised Crime Unit to support efforts to dismantle the syndicates behind the scams. Psychosocial support is also being provided to those in need.
However, the ministry acknowledged challenges ahead. A total of 198 Kenyans remain in the region, with some held at Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre and others still in shelters inside Myanmar. Border closures during the festive season have further delayed departures.
The government also raised concern over travel patterns, noting that many of those affected had entered Thailand on tourist visas despite clear warnings against employment.
“This crisis is a stark reminder of the risks posed by fraudulent overseas job offers,” the department said, urging Kenyans to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruiters before it is too late.
