Incidence human trafficking in Kenya is on the rise, with Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalis established as the merchandise in the illicit trade hat is said to involve a network with footprints all over East, Central and South Africa.

In one of such incidents, Kenyan police reported on Thursday having arrested 58 Ethiopian nationals found hiding at a house in in Kitengela town, which is about 50 kilometres south of the capital, Nairobi. The aliens, who appeared weak and malnourished were all male and had no identification.

The Ethiopians, suspected to be in transit to South Africa, were arrested by a team of multi-agency officers of the regular police and the directorate of criminal investigations (DCI) following a tip off by the members of the public.

According to security agencies, the number of Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali nationals being trafficked along the Kenya-Tanzania border was on the rise. The aliens sneak into the country through the Ethiopia-Moyale border and are held in several places in the country then smuggled to South Africa and other countries through the Kenya-Tanzania border.

More than 100 Ethiopians were arrested last year as the lucrative human trafficking trade along the porous border continues to thrive.

Isinya Sub-County Police Commander Patrick Manyasi said 28 of the aliens were locked up at the Kitengela Police Station after arrest, while 30 of them were taken to Isinya Police Station – 15 kilometres further south – where they were locked up awaiting arraignment in court.

Two Kenyans who were in the house were also arrested and taken to Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi from where they would be arraigned in court to answer charges of human trafficking, police said.

“We received a tip-off from members of the public about a large number of foreigners who were brought to the house in the middle of the night. Our officers rushed to the scene and found a total of 58 foreigners hidden in the house,” said Manyasi.

A Honda motorcycle registration number KMGK 123T recovered in the premises was confiscated and taken to the Kitengela police station as an exhibit.

Manyasi urged the public to always report suspicious individuals and activities to the police to help in enhancing security in the country.

• A Tell / KNA report / By Rop Janet