Police in Nairobi rescued 70 foreign nationals from a hideout in Ruai on Wednesday after dismantling a suspected human trafficking syndicate. The operation exposed dozens of individuals being confined under unclear conditions in a residential property, raising alarm over cross-border exploitation.
According to the Kenya Police Service, the rescued individuals include 66 Ethiopian nationals and four from Eritrea. A Kenyan man was arrested at the scene and is currently assisting investigators as authorities work to establish the full scale of the operation. The victims were taken into custody for processing and further inquiries.
The raid was led by detectives from the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) at DCI Headquarters and later reinforced by officers from Ruai Police Station. Investigators are now probing how the victims were held and whether the operation is part of a wider trafficking network.
Police have warned the public that human trafficking is a serious offence punishable under Kenyan law and urged anyone with information to report suspicious activity immediately.
The Ruai rescue comes just days after National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah exposed what he described as a network of rogue state officials allegedly colluding with human traffickers to recruit Kenyans to fight in the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Speaking in Parliament on February 19, 2026, Ichung’wah said a joint investigation by the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations revealed involvement from officers in immigration, security agencies, and foreign missions.
“There has been collusion between officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Directorate of Immigration Services, and the National Employment Authority,” the Kikuyu MP told lawmakers.
Human trafficking remains one of the world’s most serious human rights crises, affecting millions of vulnerable individuals across borders. Each year, the United States Department of State releases its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which ranks governments based on their efforts to combat forced labour, sex trafficking, and modern slavery.
In the 2025 report, Brazil and South Africa were downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List amid concerns over weakening anti-trafficking measures. Kenya, meanwhile, retained its Tier 2 status, indicating progress but highlighting persistent gaps that require urgent attention from the government, civil society, and regional partners.
Authorities say the Ruai operation demonstrates Kenya’s ongoing commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks while protecting vulnerable communities both locally and across borders.
