19 Eritreans have been remanded in an Isiolo court. The court has declined to release a Prado car they were travelling in a case suspected to be human smuggling. The foreigners, majority of them young women and children between ages of three and six, appeared before Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai.They were arrested en-route to Nairobi from the border town of Moyale in Marsabit County by police who were working in close collaboration with Anti-Terror Police Unit.
Senior prosecution counsel, Joseph Mburugu applied for remanding of the foreigners and the car they used to travel into Kenya from Ethiopia not to be released to the owner. The owner of the car and the driver are at large.Mr. Mburu has said; ”The motor vehicle is a crucial exhibit and releasing it will prejudice the case and I urge the court not to release it until this case is concluded.”
Defense counsel, Ronald Wambugu had applied for the release of the foreigners arguing that they were fleeing persecution in Ethiopia adding they were in Kenya to seek refuge from the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugee. From the 19 Eritreans, only one could speak broken English and due to lack of a translator, they could not be released on bond.
Mr Mungai, while he agreed with prosecution for remanding of the foreigners at Isiolo GK has set the hearing date for March 27.