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Kenyan police nab over 30 aliens in security swoop

Xinhua, November 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenyan police are interrogating 33 aliens who were arrested in the capital Nairobi on Monday amid enhanced security measures aimed at thwarting terror attacks in the country.

Nairobi County police commander Japheth Koome said Tuesday the immigrants were mostly Somalis who did not have proper identification documents to warrant their stay in the East Africa nation which is gearing up to host head of the Catholic Church next week.

"If someone is here as a refugee or for anything else without the needed papers they are criminals. Let them register with the authorities as per the law," Koome said, noting that security forces are not taking any chances.

Koome said the elaborate security measures have been put in place as Kenya prepares for the historic visit by Pope Francis to ensure his safety.

The police commander said the aliens would be arraigned in court to face various charges later Tuesday. Three of the suspects were South Sudanese.

Last week, nine Ethiopians were arrested for being in the country illegally in a new operation in Nairobi. Koome said the security officers would continue with the operation in efforts to ensure security for the city.

He added the operation to rid of illegal immigrants has been ongoing and more than 200 aliens have been arrested so far. Last week, more than 160 Somalis were arrested in Nairobi for being in the country illegally.

The immigrants are said to be using Kenya as their transit route to other countries such as South Africa or other European countries.

The Kenyan authorities have blamed the vastness of the region for the runaway influx of foreigners in to Kenya through Moyale on Kenya-Ethiopia borders and the porous border with Somalia.

Many aliens from Somalia have managed to sneak in the county with the help of brokers after paying hundreds of shillings.

Several aliens who find their way into the cells have tripled in the past few days over stretching the capacity of the cells in the East African nation.

But refugee rights organizations and aid agencies have blamed poverty in Africa for the rising cases of human trafficking.

They said the huge supply of labour both skilled and unskilled makes them vulnerable to criminal syndicates. Endit