Organ Harvesting Fears Grow as Kenyan Embassy Warns of Trafficking Surge in Thailand

The Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok has issued a warning about the alarming increase in Kenyans falling victim to human trafficking schemes in Southeast Asia.

These scams, which initially promise lucrative job opportunities in Thailand, often result in victims being trafficked into Myanmar and forced into criminal activities. The embassy has expressed deep concern over the persistent trend of Kenyans being lured by false job prospects, only to find themselves in dire situations across borders. Many victims, upon realizing they have been deceived, turn to the embassy for assistance often after being smuggled across international boundaries under false pretenses. Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, confirms the gravity of the situation.

She reveals that Kenya's Ambassador to Thailand Lindsay Kiptiness Kimwole has been receiving threats from traffickers demanding substantial sums for the release of trafficked Kenyans. The scams primarily target educated professionals, including teachers and IT specialists, with promises of employment in translation or technology sectors. Survivors recount instances of torture, including electrocution, starvation, and constant threats to their lives. Currently, the embassy is actively searching for three missing Kenyans believed to be trapped in Myanmar. Since the initial reports of Kenyans being trafficked to Myanmar and Lao PDR emerged in 2022, the embassy in Bangkok has successfully rescued and repatriated over 140 Kenyans and other African nationals.

The traffickers, some of whom are Kenyan themselves, exploit the desperation of their victims by charging exorbitant fees for visas and air tickets under the guise of securing legitimate employment. The problem extends beyond job scams, with the embassy also highlighting a rise in human trafficking for prostitution. Young women from East African countries are being trafficked by regional agents and auctioned online to the highest bidder. In one tragic case, a Kenyan woman recently died in Bangkok, reportedly due to complications following alleged organ harvesting. The issue of human trafficking in Southeast Asia is not new, but the recent surge in cases involving Kenyans has brought renewed attention to the region's dark underbelly.

Many victims are young women under 30, initially lured by promises of employment as domestic workers, sales clerks, or teachers. Once in Thailand, they are often smuggled into Myanmar and forced into prostitution or other forms of exploitation. The Kenyan government has been inundated with distress calls from nationals duped into non-existent jobs in the region. Traffickers often operate through unscrupulous employment agents in Nairobi and other cities, issuing 90-day tourist visas to victims and abandoning them once they realize they have been deceived. Many victims come from low-income families who have sold their limited resources to cover travel costs.

The Kenyan government has called for increased vigilance and international cooperation to combat this growing menace. While the embassy in Thailand continues to work with local authorities and NGOs to rescue and repatriate victims, the scale of the problem demands a concerted global effort to address this complex and dangerous issue.