•Two suspects believed to be behind the smuggling were arrested.
•Several traffickers have been arrested and charged with human trafficking.
Image: THE STAR
More than 30 Ethiopian nationals are on a hunger strike at the Buruburu police station, Nairobi, to demand their fast repatriation.
The aliens started their strike on Tuesday as they demanded that they be sent back to their country as ordered by the court.
Some victims are said to be too weak and sick because of the hunger strike.
The aliens had been arrested from a house in Donholm while waiting to be smuggled to South Africa as promised by their agent.
Two suspects believed to be behind the smuggling were arrested.
They were taken to court and it was then ordered they be repatriated immediately.
Police say they have informed immigration officials and the Ethiopian embassy in Nairobi to fast track the order and have them taken back to their country.
Nairobi Deputy police boss James Mugera said the issue was under control and they will solve it.
“Initially, there was a language barrier but we are now fine and solving it,” he said.
And following the incident, Ethiopian authorities say 139 nationals detained in Kenya for illegal entry have been freed.
Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem-Tekea said this was after they intervened.
Tekea said the Ethiopians were released from six different police cells around Nairobi. They were being held in Kiambu, Gigiri, Pangani, Jogoo, Buruburu and Dandora cells for a period ranging from one to nine months.
He said they are engaging authorities on how to handle such issues in future.
They are set for repatriation.
On Tuesday, a man was charged court in a case of 108 Ethiopians who were allegedly trafficked and rescued in Kiambu County two weeks ago.
Husuman Moche denied two charges of human trafficking when he appeared before Kahawa Law Courts Chief Magistrate Diane Mochache on Monday.
Moche was charged with harbouring 61 Ethiopian nationals for exploitation through deception. He was arrested along with three others.
They were arrested in Mugumo Estate on February 18.
He was also charged with trafficking 47 minors.
Mochache directed that Moche be detained at Muthaiga Police Station after the prosecution denied him bail.
During the arrest, the 108 Ethiopians aged between 13 and 35 were found locked inside the room of a house whose owner is said to be a member of a human trafficking syndicate operating across the Horn of Africa.
Dozens of Ethiopians have in the past months been detained by authorities for lack of immigration documents as they were being smuggled to the Middle East and South Africa for greener pastures.
Several traffickers have been arrested and charged with human trafficking.