A Kenyan Border Where Anything Gets In, For Just Sh1,000

Liboi border point on the Kenya-Somalia border

Contraband goods, weapons and illegal immigrants are being smuggled into Kenya because of corruption at the border with Somalia.

Investigations by the Nation found that for as little as Sh1,000, some elements in Kenya’s security, customs and immigration agencies will allow you to move arms, contraband goods or illegal immigrants into the country.

Masterminds facilitating the racket make a killing, charging each illegal immigrant up to Sh40,000.

Interviews with a cross-section of leaders in Northern Kenya revealed that at least 100 illegal Somali refugees sneak into Kenya every day, with most of them finding their way to Nairobi and other towns.

Garissa mayor Mohammed Gabow blamed the security agencies for laxity.

“We all know what is happening but there’s nothing we can do,” Mr Gabow said.

North Eastern provincial commissioner James ole Serian, said reports of illegal immigrants entering the country after bribing government officials along the border were worrying.

“Corruption is the biggest challenge in the fight against smuggling along the borders,” the PC said.

The smuggling cartels are said to operate from Bangal, a Somali border town. Anyone who wants to smuggle anything into Kenya finds his or her way to Garissa from this town.

The Nation team managed to track down one “retired” human trafficker who said it costs $500 (Sh40,000) to smuggle one illegal immigrant from Hamar to Nairobi.

“You need to talk to the policemen guarding the bridge first, tell them the number of immigrants you will be driving across the bridge, and agree on the amount of money you will pay them per person,” he said on condition of anonymity due to the gravity of the issue.

The minimum, he says, is Sh1,000 per person.

North-Eastern police boss Abdul Maka Mzee admitted that corruption was rife along the entry points and that his officers had not succeeded in stamping it out.

“Whenever there is illegal business, corruption cannot be ruled out,” he said.

But he was quick to point out that the entry points were also manned by customs and immigration officials.

And on Monday, an assistant commissioner of police arrested transporting illegal immigrants was charged in a Garissa court.

However, Mr Thomas Matano Nangenoi denied the charge and was freed on a Sh200,000 personal bond, until Wednes, when the case will be heard.

He was charged with ferrying three illegal immigrants — Mr Abass Ahmed, Mr Abdullahi Issack and Mr Abdikarim Abubakar.

He was arrested at the Garissa-Tana bridge at the weekend.

His Kenyan co-accused, Mr Abdi Ahmed, pleaded guilty to the charge, and was sentenced to three months in jail.

Garissa resident magistrate Wanjohi Mburu Mwangi said the practice was rampant in the region.

In the same court, Mr Abdikadir Mohamed, who was arrested at Bangal check point transporting 16 illegal Somali immigrants to Nairobi, was jailed for three months.

Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Border%20where%20anything%20gets%20in,%20fo...