Authorities in West Pokot are investigating a suspected case of human trafficking after 108 Eritrean nationals, including 13 children, were found abandoned in Lokitonyala near the Kenya-Uganda border on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
The group, which comprises men, women, and minors, is currently being held at Alale Police Station under tight security. Authorities are making arrangements to transfer them to Kapenguria Police Station for further interrogation and processing as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of their arrival.
Preliminary information indicates that the Eritreans were transported from Uganda and left at the border by unidentified individuals using two buses. Local officials stated that the migrants appeared disoriented and confused upon discovery. Initial interviews revealed that the group had fled from Eritrea into Ethiopia, where they encountered a person who promised them safe passage and employment opportunities in Nairobi.
Believing they would be assisted in reaching Kenya’s capital, the group agreed to travel through Uganda. However, after entering Uganda, they were intercepted by unknown parties, placed into buses, and later abandoned at the Kenya border. Their claims suggest that they were misled and potentially exploited by a human trafficking network operating in the region.
Authorities suspect this may be part of a larger trafficking syndicate targeting vulnerable populations in the Horn of Africa. The group’s route from Eritrea to Ethiopia, through Uganda, and into Kenya raises serious questions about the existence of a coordinated transnational operation. Investigations are focusing on identifying those responsible for orchestrating the journey and determining the motives behind their eventual abandonment at the border.
Security officials are also scrutinizing the role of Ugandan authorities and transportation operators, questioning how such a large group of undocumented migrants managed to cross international borders and reach a remote location without detection. The possibility of negligence or even complicity is being considered as part of the inquiry.
Efforts are underway to collaborate with immigration authorities, regional security agencies, and international migration organizations to assess the legal status of the individuals involved and provide them with appropriate protection. Human rights concerns are central to the ongoing response, especially given the presence of minors among the migrants.
As the investigation continues, Kenyan authorities are calling for enhanced cross-border cooperation and intelligence-sharing to curb human trafficking and prevent similar incidents in the future. The case has sparked renewed concern about the vulnerability of migrants fleeing political and economic instability in their home countries, only to fall prey to deceptive networks promising safe haven and employment.
