Safi news

• The aliens were travelling from Eritrea to Nairobi without travel documents

• They were inbound Toyota land cruiser with their kenyan driver

• The immigrants have since been taken to Nairobi for further interrogations

Authorities in Laikipia County over the weekend arrested 24 Eritrean nationals who were in the country illegally and were travelling to Nairobi.

The illegal aliens who included both men and women and some minors were nabbed travelling in a Toyota Landcruiser pick up near Loisaba conservancy at Ewaso area following a tip-off to authorities from members of the public on Saturday evening.

Laikipia County Commissioner (CC) Joseph Kanyiri said that the aliens were arrested by the area chief after he was informed of strangers in the area who could hardly speak local languages and seemed to have lost direction to their intended destination.

“The aliens were using panya routes in a bid to escape police road checks on major highways but swift action by members of the public who noticed they were strangers helped in nabbing them,” Kanyiri said.

The county commissioner speaking at his Nanyuki office on Monday, added that the 24 aliens and a Kenyan national who was driving the vehicle ferrying them were immediately transported to Nairobi for further interrogation as investigations into human trafficking commenced.

“We expect them to be processed for appearance in court anytime even as we heighten surveillance on human trafficking since from the look of things the aliens had traversed several counties before reaching Laikipia,” the CC said.

He added that police officers had been instructed to be on the lookout and intercept any vehicle suspected to be ferrying aliens or illegal substances in the country from outside our boarders.

“Apart from illegal aliens, we have also witnessed cases of hard drugs ferried from neighbouring countries into Kenya and that’s why police officers have been urged to be very diligent when dealing with traffickers,” The administrator added.

The County Commissioner also called on public service vehicle operators to be on the lookout for “strange passengers” boarding their vehicles and report immediately to authorities and also car hire companies to be vigilant on those hiring vehicles since the same could be used to transport aliens.

The arrest of the illegal aliens comes two months after eight others believed to be Ethiopians were arrested along the Nanyuki-Meru highway at Katheri trading on the outskirts of Nanyuki town by detectives while travelling to Nairobi.

Meanwhile preparations for the Madaraka day celebrations in the County are in top gear which will be held at the Nanyuki stadium.

Kanyiri said that members of the disciplined forces and various entertainment groups had finalized their rehearsals and were set to entertain the crowd on Madaraka day.

“We have invited many dignitaries and also members of the local business community therefore we expect many people to attend,” He said.

He added that everyone attending the celebrations were expected to wear a face mask since a big crowd was expected.