Police grapple with influx of poor Ethiopians

By JOHN NJAGI Source  nationmedia.comPosted Thursday, January 6 2011 at 19:54

For quite a long while, Kenya has become a haven for illegal Ethiopian immigrants fleeing their country in search of a better life.

The immigrants are entering Kenyan in droves, presenting a security and logistical nightmare for security agents.

These foreigners access the country through the porous border in Moyale and proceed to northern and upper eastern Kenya.

Tales of Ethiopians being arrested, prosecuted and others repatriated in their hundreds have become legion in Moyale and Isiolo.

The Nation has learnt that the Ethiopians, mostly youths, are fleeing their country for South Africa, where they hope to find jobs.

It is believed those who have successfully used this illegal route and landed in South Africa, are urging their countrymen to try their luck, creating a frenzy among the jobless and poverty-stricken Ethiopians to join the band wagon.

Since Ethiopia is a landlocked country, the immigrants prefer Kenya, its southern neighbour and not Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west and Djibouti and Somalia to the east, some of which are traditionally hostile.

The “smuggling” of Ethiopians is lucrative and has become a cash cow for “hired” transporters and other brokers who arrange transport, safe houses and other logistics until the immigrants reach their destination. More reading on Daily Nation.