Five Eritrean nationals escaped from police custody in unclear circumstances on Tuesday night October 18, 2022.
The foreigners, who were victims of human trafficking, had been detained at the Embakasi police station awaiting repatriation.
According to the two officers who were in charge of the prisoners, the foreigners had gone to take bath within the station but at around 10 pm they realized that they were missing.
"The buckets and their clothes were however left at the washrooms. A manhunt has been launched for the foreigners,” a senior police officer said.
Human trafficking
Dozens of Eritreans have been rescued in the recent past while being smuggled through Kenya to Asia. Several vehicles have also been intercepted ferrying the foreigners.
Other suspects have been arrested by detectives from the Transnational Organized Crime for being part of the racket that is involved in making false travel documents for the victims.
Most of the victims say they are escaping poor treatment in their countries to seek jobs in Asia.
Most of them suffer in Kenya as they get little assistance from their diplomats. This is further exacerbated by the fact that they cannot speak Swahili or English.
Some rogue security officers have also been implicated in the racket by colluding with the smugglers.
In January this year, Kenya extradited a Dutchman who was wanted by Interpol over human trafficking.
John Habeta, 53, of Eritrean descent was arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers who later handed him over to the Dutch authorities.
Former DCI boss George Kinoti said Habeta was arrested following a covert operation after an Interpol Red Notice alert.
He was believed to be at the helm of an international human smuggling organization that operates in the underworld, responsible for the trafficking of human beings from Africa to Europe.
Other escapees
Elsewhere in Konza, Machakos county, police are also looking for two teenagers who escaped from their custody while handcuffed.
The escapees, John Munyau and Patrick Musau, were rescued by the police who found them being subjected to mob injustice.
According to the local police commander, the two had earlier broken into one of the shops where they stole money.
“They escaped from the police vehicle while being taken to the station,” the police commander said.
