The Kenyan Embassy in Thailand has cautioned Kenyans to desist from travelling to Myanmar following a surge in cases of Kenyans being mistreated in the Asian country.
The Embassy was forced to issue the warning after a group of Kenyans living in the Asian country called for help after getting trapped in Myanmar’s notorious scam compounds.
For the last two weeks, Kenyan officials from the Embassy based in Bangkok have been camping at the border between Myanmar and Thailand trying to negotiate the release of 10 Kenyans who have sent out an appeal for rescue, fearing for their lives.
Despite attempts by the Kenyan government to lobby for their release, the cartel bosses in Myanmar claim that they bought the Kenyans as their slaves for Ksh820,000 (45,000 RMB) per slave.
The cartels claim that if the government wants the Kenyans to be released then their money amounting to around Ksh1.5 million ($12,000) should be refunded.
“The warning comes as dozens of young Kenyans call out for help from Myanmar’s notorious scam compounds, while others continue to stream in, and becoming slaves of Chinese criminal cartels,” read part of the warning notice.
The embassy has since reached out to the families of the ten victims, but the rescue mission faces many challenges because of the dangerous environment where the victims have been held hostage.
“It is however troubling to note that despite the many warnings in the print and electronic media, young Kenyans continue to travel to Myanmar after paying a colossal sum of money to recruitment agents for non-existent jobs,” noted officials of the Kenyan Embassy to Thailand.
According to the embassy, the victims are forced to work for 19 hours a day with only 5 hours of rest which they mainly spend sleeping. Lazy or sickly workers are sold off to other companies for as much as Ksh94,000 (50,000 Thai Baht) or freed.
The Embassy further revealed that it had already obtained a list of another 45 Kenyans working in different scam compounds and those released after paying ransom.
“Dozens of other Kenyans do not wish to be rescued and have become part of the cartel networks and are being used to traffic other Kenyans for a fee. One Kenyan was recently apprehended in Thailand for being one of the most notorious traffickers,” read part of the statement.
“As a result of the ongoing civil war, most of the scam compounds have come under the control of various insurgent groups, who offer protection to the scamming companies for a fee.”
