DCI Bust 3 Suspects, Save 18 From Being Shipped To Gulf Destination

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have rescued 18 victims of human trafficking, who had been harboured at a house in Athi River, en route to a destination in the Gulf where they were to be sold as slaves.

In a raid conducted by sleuths from the Transnational Organized Crimes Unit on Tuesday evening, September 6, the 18 were about to be shipped out of the country when the hawk-eyed detectives arrived and rescued them, following Intelligence leads.

Three suspects Abdullahi Hussein Mohamed, 32, Hassan Ibrahim Godana, 35 and Chari Dulacha, 40 were arrested during the late evening raid. 

The rescue of the victims and subsequent arrest of the suspects comes in the wake of increased cases of mistreatment of migrant workers in the gulf. 

"Jobseekers are advised to be wary of unscrupulous employment agents who are not recognized by the government but end up sneaking out immigrants without proper documentation. 

"The trio are currently in custody at Muthaiga Police station being processed for arraignment," DCI stated in part.

Meanwhile, the rescued victims are in protective custody as detectives continue with their documentation.

The rescue and raid come after Diana Chepkemoi spoke about her horrible experiences after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday, September 6.

Her case which was captured through photos that surfaced of her being held against her will in Saudi Arabia that went viral and sparked a massive uproar countrywide was what she termed as the 'tip of the iceberg'.

“I left Kenya to go to Saudi Arabia with the hopes of getting a better life and to be honest, mine was just a tip of the iceberg, people are suffering there. My friends are suffering there.

“It is a shame being told there is nothing you can do and there’s nothing your government can do. I’m pleading with the government to please do something. Help them because they're suffering, it's just that I found a voice,” she said.

Her mother Clara Chepkemoi, who was at the airport to welcome her back, weighed in by stating that it was better for one to look for employment in their own country. She added that she was unsure of Saudi Arabia but had to let Diana travel to the Middle East country.

“I am very grateful at this moment because God has done great things to me. It was a critical condition whereby I could not imagine what to do. As a mother, it is painful to have our children assaulted abroad. It is better to hustle here and be in peace and happiness,” Clara stated.

“I was not happy about Saudi Arabia. But because she (Diana) said that she was going to hustle for her siblings, I gave her permission."

But as Chepkemoi landed at JKIA, hundreds of other girls were waiting to fly to Saudi Arabia, with a 22-year-old who secured employment opportunities in the Gulf expressing that she was not scared of the horror stories, even that of Chepkemoi who was inches closer to her at the airport.

"Anyone can die anywhere. I have heard about those cases, but it does not mean it will happen to me. After all, anyone can die anywhere. We will all die and it could also happen to me while in Kenya.

"I did catering in school, but I've not secured a good job. I only earned Ksh200 per day from the hotels I have worked in. This job in Saudi (Arabia) could be my luck," she stated.