Two Kenyans alleged to have illegally trafficked 17 Eritreans into the country were on Friday arraigned and charged by a Kabarnet court.
John Yusuf Arigelle and Ahmed Hamad Esimpecha who appeared before Resident Magistrate, Vienna Amboko, were charged that on July 14, 2022 along Tangulbei-Loruk road in Tiaty East Sub-county within Baringo County, they jointly smuggled 17 Eritreans into Kenya contrary to section 53 (1)(p) of the Kenyan citizenship and immigration Act, 2011.
The accused are said to have jointly smuggled Luwam Berhe, Saron Misgina, Cabine Teklemariam, Zebib Kahsay, Adiam Gerbremeskel, Ergaelem Kahsay, Kudus Adhanor, Medhane T/Tion, Simon W/Gebriel, Nahom Afewerki, Dejan Have, Testay Bahta, Faniel Brhane, Kismet Kahsay and Merhawi T/Slasie alongside two minors.
The Court was told that the migrants who were arrested, Thursday, evening were being ferried on a Toyota land cruiser by the two adult male Kenyans to Nairobi through Moyale, Marsabit, Baragoi, before being intercepted by police manning a roadblock along the border of Baringo North and Tiaty Sub-counties.
The two denied the charges as they were being read to them.
However, the 15 Eritrean nationalist who were arraigned in court separately were not conversant with Swahili or English languages.
The Magistrate ordered for a fresh plea to be taken on July 18 when a Tigrinya interpreter will be availed by Immigration Department to facilitate taking of plea.
She ordered the migrants to be remanded at Kabarnet Police Station, the same place where the two drivers will be held until July 19, when the Court is expected to give a ruling on their bond terms application.
