18 suspected Rwandese illegal immigrants were arrested during a security swoop at Mitume Trading Centre, in Tuwan sub-location in Trans Nzoia County.
The immigrants were seized as the Trans Nzoia County Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus preparedness and response stepped up measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19.
The 18 had rented three rooms in the slums, causing a scare among
other tenants who hurriedly moved away in protest in search of rental
space.
confirming the arrests at the Tuwani sub location chief’s center,
assistant chief Jacqueline Sitoya said the two were nabbed in the
hideouts of her sub location. The Trans Nzoia West Deputy County
Commissioner Abdulahi Khalifa confirmed the incident and said the
immigrants entered the country at the interval between 3rd March and
10th through the Tanzanian border. “These immigrants entered Kenya through the Tanzanian border and their motives are yet to be established,” said the DCC.
The DCC said police have launched investigations and warned landlords against
harboring illegal immigrants and endangering the lives of Kenyans in the process.
He directed chiefs and the Nyumba Kumi initiative leaders to be on high
alert and round up any foreigner residing in their areas of
jurisdiction, saying some immigrants could cause a security risk.
All of the immigrants have been screened by medical personnel, “In light of the Coronavirus pandemic cases both in Kenya and Rwanda, the Trans Nzoia emergency response committee on coronavirus preparedness
and response has screened all of them and they will be quarantined at the 2 isolation units at the County Referral Hospital in Kitale and Kaisagat health center,” said Khalifa.
Earlier, Trans Nzoia County Governor Patrick Khaemba had pointed out that porous borders existed, noting the Suam border along Kenya-Uganda and called for security agents to beef up security and surveillance.
