51 Kenyans Rescued from Myanmar Help DCI Track Global Cybercrime Networks

Kenyan authorities have begun interviewing 51 citizens repatriated from Myanmar as part of an investigation into transnational cyber fraud and human trafficking networks.

The group, comprising 38 men and 13 women, arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday evening after being removed from compounds in Myanmar where they were allegedly forced to participate in online scams. Officials said the individuals had been held for months under coercive conditions.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is overseeing the process through its Transnational Organised Crime Unit. Investigators are collecting statements to identify those involved in recruiting, financing and transporting Kenyans to scam operations in Southeast Asia. Authorities said the interviews are intended to support criminal investigations and prevention efforts, not to treat the returnees as suspects.

The repatriation follows a broader crackdown on scam centres in Myanmar’s Karen State near the Thai border. In September, Myanmar security forces carried out coordinated raids in areas including Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, targeting criminal compounds linked to large-scale online fraud.

The operations led to violent clashes between government forces and armed groups in the region. As syndicates abandoned their bases, hundreds of foreign nationals were left stranded without protection or transport.

More than 200 Kenyans were among those affected. Some sought shelter at military facilities, while others crossed into Thailand to escape the fighting. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said diplomatic efforts are continuing to secure the return of Kenyans who remain in the region.

International organisations have identified Myanmar as a major centre for cyber fraud and forced labour. Watchdog groups say criminal networks have adapted to enforcement pressure by relocating operations and exploiting weak border controls and limited regulation across neighbouring countries.

Kenyan authorities said information provided by the rescued citizens would be used to map trafficking routes and disrupt recruitment networks operating at home and abroad. Officials added that cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies would be essential to addressing the problem.

The government has again urged Kenyans seeking work overseas to verify job offers through official channels.