Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has expressed concern that some Kenyans rescued from human trafficking rings in Southeast Asia could inadvertently become a threat to national security.
He warned that victims who were trained in cybercrime while trapped in online scam networks might use these skills to launch fraudulent operations back home.
“Some rescued individuals now trained in cybercrime pose a national risk by potentially establishing scam operations in Kenya upon their return,” Mudavadi said during a foreign affairs briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Mudavadi described human trafficking as a sophisticated challenge that continues to target Kenyans through false promises of well-paying jobs abroad. Victims are lured into forced labour, online scams, and other illegal activities in countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
Since July 2022, Kenya’s embassy in Bangkok has assisted in the rescue and repatriation of roughly 500 citizens. Currently, 126 Kenyans are awaiting repatriation – 69 in Thailand and 57 in Myanmar – while some are believed to be held by armed groups operating in the region.
Highlighting the dangers posed by some returnees, Mudavadi shared the story of a Kenyan man who had been rescued in March 2025 but later returned illegally to work with a Chinese-owned scam company in Myanmar. The man was arrested in Thailand for using a fake immigration stamp.
“This shows that some of the victims are not innocent but have become part of the criminal network,” he said, stressing that the risk extends beyond individual actions. Returnees with cyber expertise could be exploited by organised crime groups within Kenya.
To counter these risks, Mudavadi outlined several measures. The government plans to launch public awareness campaigns warning citizens about deceptive foreign job offers.
Legal frameworks are also being strengthened to enable effective prosecution of traffickers, and reintegration programs are being expanded to provide support for rescued victims.
“The Kenyan mission in Bangkok has played a crucial role in sharing timely labour information and advisories to prevent such cases,” Mudavadi noted.
The government is also boosting its diplomatic reach in Southeast Asia, with plans to open a new embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. This move aims to improve monitoring of Kenyans working abroad and ensure their protection.
Mudavadi urged job seekers to always confirm overseas employment opportunities through official channels to avoid falling prey to human trafficking networks disguised as legitimate job offers.
