Ethiopian couple illegally in Kenya arraigned in connection to human trafficking charges
An Ethiopian couple found to be residing in the country illegally without valid documents have been arraigned over human trafficking related charges before a Makadara court in Nairobi.
While appearing before Makadara Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku today, the duo, Anna Abdirahaman and his wife, Hayat Mohamed were accused of trafficking multiple individuals, including a 17-year-old girl to Libya in a cross-border human trafficking syndicate.
The prosecution through the investigating officer, Constable Abdirahaman Bulle of Starehe Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought to have the suspects detained for 14 days pending completion of investigations.
They were detained at Panagani Police Station in Nairobi pending detention application ruling slated for tomorrow, December 31, 2024.
Preliminary police investigations indicate the couple lured their victims to Eastleigh and facilitated their exploitation abroad.
The case came to light after the minor was reported missing on December 25, 2024, under Occurrence Book (OB) number 69/25/12/2024 at Pangani Police Station.
Her parents, residents of Nasra Gardens Estate in Pangani, learned from their daughter’s friend that she had been taken to Libya.
In an affidavit submitted at the Makadara Law Courts by Police Constable Bulle, he revealed that the minor had been trafficked through Kampala, Uganda, and Sudan, with promises of being transported to Europe. However, she ended up in Libya, where she remains, reportedly undergoing exploitation.
The investigation uncovered the involvement of an individual identified as “Blacky,” who allegedly colluded with the suspects to traffic victims.
Bulle requested a 14-day detention period for the suspects at Pangani Police Station to facilitate further investigations.
He informed the court that the minor’s relatives, posing as potential victims, arranged a meeting with the suspects.
The suspects lured the relatives to their residence in Pangani Shopping Centre, promising to transfer them to Libya via Kampala.
The relatives informed the police, who intervened and arrested the suspects. The suspects were booked under OB number 123/27/12/2024.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Anna and Hayat are Ethiopian nationals unlawfully present in Kenya without valid passports or visas.
The DCI is conducting forensic analysis of the suspects’ mobile phones to trace their accomplices and locate additional missing persons.
Investigators are also liaising with the Immigration Department to verify the suspects’ legal status in Kenya.
