Plans underway to bring back Kenyans stranded in Myanmar

Some of the foreigners rescued from labour camp in Myanmar/SCREENGRAB

The Kenyan government is in consultation with the Thai government to reopen its border crossing on humanitarian grounds to enable the 64 Kenyans who were rescued from the Myanmar scam to be repatriated back to Kenya.

The 64 Kenyans and more than 30 nationalities who come from as far as South America are in a group of over 7,000 foreigners rescued by two armed groups namely the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Border Guard Force (BDF), and are currently waiting at the Thai-Mynamar border to cross into Thailand for onward repatriation to their home countries.

In a press statement sent to newsrooms from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs stated that since the first wave of 260 foreigners, including 23 Kenyans, were handed over to the Royal Thai Army by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army on February 12, 2025 the Thai authorities have not reopened the border crossing.

“The Kenyan Ambassador in Thailand has remained in touch, on a daily basis with the Kenyans to apprise them on efforts by the government to bring them home safely,” the statement reads in part.

It added, “The government is exploring other alternative routes to bring Kenyans home."

According to the statement, the situation in the makeshift military camps in Karen State where the rescued nationals are being held remains dire due to lack of access to medical facilities. Clean water, electricity, and sanitation.

The Ministry has also confirmed that the State Department for Diaspora Affairs that is leading a multi-agency team while collaborating with the Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok and HAART Kenya, has finalised logistical arrangements to return Kenyans home.

The government has also reiterated its commitment to extract its nationals from difficult circumstances and situations, of which some of these efforts have been witnessed in Libya, South Sudan, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Israel, among others, which is in line with its fundamental duty to protect the rights and welfare of Kenyans wherever they are.

“We advise our citizens to verify the legitimacy of jobs advertised online by checking with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and to exclusively use private agencies that are registered and licensed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

Kenyans have also been advised to use the list of the approved agencies, which can be accessed on website www.neaims.go.ke

The more than 7,000 victims were lured into fake jobs.