In a recent operation, authorities in Kenya apprehended four police officers following a raid on a residence located approximately 16 kilometres from Nairobi, where 37 Ethiopian nationals were discovered to be held.
The officers are facing suspicions of involvement in facilitating a human smuggling and trafficking syndicate.
Reports indicate that the detained Ethiopians shared their intentions with Kenyan officials, expressing their desire to seek better opportunities in South Africa.
Efforts are currently underway to locate the proprietor of the residence and other accomplices linked to the smuggling network.
Kenya serves as a key transit point for Ethiopian migrants seeking unauthorised entry into South Africa, as highlighted by the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
According to the agency, the majority of these migrants, predominantly hailing from Ethiopia’s Oromia and SNNP regions, traverse Kenya via the Moyale border crossing before continuing their journey through Tanzania en route to South Africa.