The Kenyan Embassy in Thailand has issued a renewed warning to its citizens against seeking employment in Myanmar, following a surge in reports of fraudulent job offers circulating online. In a statement released on Saturday, the Embassy expressed deep concern over the persistent applications by Kenyans, despite ongoing alerts regarding the dangers of traveling to Myanmar, which include risks of abduction, forced labor, and torture at the hands of criminal syndicates.
The Embassy highlighted that some Kenyans are disregarding these warnings, with ten individuals currently held captive by a Chinese cartel demanding hefty ransoms for their release. The cartel claims ownership over the abducted individuals, alleging they purchased them as slaves.
“The Kenyan Embassy in Thailand is reiterating its warning against traveling to Myanmar,” the statement read. “Numerous young Kenyans are calling for assistance from notorious scam compounds, while others continue to arrive, falling victim to Chinese criminal networks.”
The Embassy reported that cartel leaders are demanding around USD 12,000 (approximately Ksh. 1.5 million) for the release of each victim, who they claim were bought at 45,000 RMB (Ksh. 820,420).
Despite extensive media coverage and repeated warnings, the Embassy noted with concern that many young Kenyans are still traveling to Myanmar after paying substantial fees to recruitment agents for jobs that do not exist in Thailand.
The Embassy clarified that there are no legitimate cryptocurrency or customer service positions available, as falsely advertised in numerous online postings. Victims of these scams are often taken to the border town of Maesot after arriving in Bangkok, where they are smuggled across illegally.
Once in the scam compounds, victims undergo rigorous training for up to ten days, with strict performance targets. Those who fail to meet these targets face brutal punishments, including electrocution, whipping, starvation, and various forms of mental abuse. Many victims endure severe conditions, including confinement in dark rooms for extended periods without food and threats of organ harvesting.
Victims reportedly work up to 19 hours a day with only five hours for rest, mostly during sleep, as scamming activities primarily occur at night. Workers who are deemed ineffective or unwell are often sold to other companies for significant sums.
The Embassy has compiled a list of 45 additional Kenyans believed to be working in various scam compounds, with some having managed to escape or been released after paying ransoms. Alarmingly, it was discovered that a number of Kenyans are unwilling to be rescued and have integrated into cartel operations, actively participating in the trafficking of other citizens for profit.
The statement also mentioned that one Kenyan was recently arrested in Thailand for being a prominent trafficker. The ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar has led to various insurgent groups seizing control of many scam operations, charging protection fees to these companies while also engaging in extortion.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has echoed these warnings, advising against pursuing employment in Myanmar. In 2022, the ministry took action against several agents promoting non-existent sales and customer service jobs in Thailand, particularly following the death of a Kenyan who underwent a botched surgery in Myanmar.