Kenyans who willingly travel to high-risk countries may find themselves with limited government support, as officials review the current repatriation policy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an update on the rescue of Kenyans caught in swindling rings in Myanmar, noted that “blanket assistance strains resources and erodes accountability,” signaling potential changes in how response to distress calls from its citizens will be handled going forward.
On Monday, December 22, families of Kenyans still awaiting repatriation were directed to procure return tickets independently, rather than relying on state funding.
“Eighty-six Kenyans in military shelters initially refused to cooperate, demanding government-funded tickets and spreading falsehoods on social media, but later shared next-of-kin details on December 19, 2025″.
The government also confirmed the repatriation of 119 Kenyans who had already returned from Myanmar following recent raids by Myanmar authorities and rebel groups.
The latest developments follow security operations in Myanmar, where camp operators fled, leaving over 200 Kenyans in military shelters in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko, while another group of over 100 crossed into Thailand for safety.
Currently, 198 Kenyans remain pending repatriation, including 66 in Thailand’s IDC, 129 in Myanmar shelters, and 3 in a Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia. Investigations revealed that most of these individuals had entered Thailand on tourist visas between April 2024 and November 2025, ignoring the “employment prohibited” endorsement.
The government also found that many had bypassed previous evacuation efforts, including the major repatriation in March 2025, knowingly returning to swindling activities. Officials warned that government-funded rescues for individuals engaging in unlawful work risk moral hazard, undermining travel advisories and safe migration policies.
Repatriated Kenyans are interviewed by the DCI’s Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) to support prosecutions of criminal syndicates operating abroad.