56 foreign nationals who police say are Ethiopians were on Friday arrested in Githunguri, Machakos county for allegedly being in the country illegally.
Athi River East subcounty police commander Anderson Mbae said the group didn’t have the necessary documents to allow them to be in Kenya.
The Matter was reported to Muungano police station as an arrest of Ethiopian aliens on OB NO: 20/25/10/2024 at about 5.00pm.
“On Friday at about 5.00pm, a report was made to Muungano police station that there were suspected many people holed up in one residential house. Police cordoned the scene and arrested 56 aliens of Ethiopian origin,” Mbae told the Star by phone on Saturday.
Mbae said the suspects’ ages were yet to be established due to the language barrier. They are all males.
“They barely know English,” Mbae said.
Police said the aliens appeared to be very weak during the arrest.
The suspects according to police alleged that they were brought into the country by a female adult from Ethiopia, but the building’s tenant.
She wasn’t present at the time of the arrest.
“The officers managed to arrest the house’s caretaker, a male adult aged 24, who is assisting police with investigations,” Mbae said.
Mbae said the suspects have been detained at Mavoko SNP police station in Athi River pending further interrogation when an interpreter is availed and arraignment before Mavoko Law Courts on October 28 for the offence of being in Kenya illegally.
He urged members of the public to be more vigilant in their neighbourhood and report to police on any suspicious activities.
“56 aliens is a large number that can easily be noted,”
Mbae said.