Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i Orders Deportation of 41 Foreigners over Smuggling of Contraband Goods

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has ordered the deportation of 41 foreign nationals from Kenya. The foreigners are said to have been involved in illegal trade and smuggling of contraband goods into the country through the port of Mombasa.

The deportees were arrested during a crackdown on illegal traders and contraband goods in different estates in Nairobi. Others were also found in possession of fake work permits.

The Ministry of Interior said a majority of them were found in possession of illegal gambling machines, which are sneaked into the country disguised as car spare parts.

Speaking early this week when he supervised the destruction of more than 500 illegal gambling in Dagoretti, Nairobi, CS Matiang'i warned that those found engaging in the business will face the full force of the law.

"This business is destroying the lives of our children. Some of them are not going to school. Let us stop pretending. We must stand up and call sin by its name for the sake of our children," he said.

 "It is working against the President’s 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school. We shall not accept it.”

Most of the deportees are Chinese and Indian nationals.