The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has confirmed that 64 Kenyans rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar will soon be repatriated after successfully crossing into Thailand.
In a statement dated March 2, the Ministry revealed that the group is currently stranded at the Thai-Myanmar border as they await permission to cross.
The delay is due to Thailand’s continued closure of the border crossing since February 12, 2025, when the first group of 260 foreigners, including 24 Kenyans, was handed over to the Royal Thai Army by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
“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 Ministry said in part. “The Government of Kenya is in consultation with the Thai Government to have the border crossing re-opened on humanitarian grounds to allow the rescued nationals entry into Thai territory and repatriation to Kenya.”
The 64 Kenyans are part of a larger group of over 7,000 foreigners from more than 30 nationalities rescued by the DKBA and the Border Guard Force (BGF). These individuals were trafficked into Myanmar late last year and forced into various online scams, including fraud, identity theft, phishing, romance scams, and cryptocurrency fraud.
The Ministry highlighted the dire conditions in the makeshift military camps in Karen State, where the rescued individuals lack basic necessities such as clean water, electricity, sanitation, and medical care.
Kenya has been actively working to repatriate its citizens trapped in such situations. On February 19, 46 Kenyans were freed from similar scam compounds, following the earlier rescue of 24 individuals. Additionally, on February 8, four Kenyans managed to escape to Thailand, where they were aided by civilians before being handed over to border security officials.
The government has cautioned Kenyans against seeking employment opportunities abroad without verifying their legitimacy. The Ministry urged job seekers to consult the State Department for Diaspora Affairs before accepting overseas job offers and to use only registered recruitment agencies.
