The State Department for Foreign Affairs has announced that 119 more Kenyans have been rescued in Myanmar.
In a statement on Monday, December 22, the department said the Kenyan nationals were rescued following recent raids by Myanmar authorities.
“119 Kenyans have been successfully repatriated, following recent raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups, with efforts continuing for the remaining Kenyans amid complex regional dynamics,” read part of the statement.
The department noted that the criminal syndicates had established scam hubs in remote border areas of Karen State in Myanmar, near the Thailand frontier.
The compounds were used to run online fraud schemes and recruited workers from across the world, including Kenyans, largely through false job offers. Some of the sites were protected by various rebel groups, turning the area into a volatile flashpoint.
According to the department, the Myanmar government launched raids on the compounds in September 2025, leading to arrests, seizures, bombings, and demolitions.
The operations triggered clashes between government forces and rebel groups, as well as fighting among rival factions.
Following the raids, criminal operators fled the camps, abandoning hundreds of foreign workers. More than 200 Kenyans sought refuge in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while another group of over 100 crossed into Thailand.
Upon receiving an initial list of 126 Kenyans requiring assistance, the Kenyan government, through the SDDA and the Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok, moved swiftly to coordinate evacuations.
The measures included creating WhatsApp groups linking officials with next-of-kin to provide real-time updates and coordinate ticket purchases, resulting in the repatriation of 119 individuals.
However, seven Kenyans are yet to return due to last-minute flight cancellations and are awaiting rebooking.
“Currently, 198 Kenyans await repatriation: 66 in Thailand’s IDC and 129 in Myanmar shelters. The Embassy is also in touch with 3 Kenyans in Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia.
“Notably, 86 Kenyans in military shelters initially refused cooperation—demanding government-funded tickets and spreading falsehoods on social media—but shared next-of-kin details on December 19, 2025,” the department added.
