This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 8, 2020, Kenya's security agencies, in collaboration with health officials in Migori County, arrested 20 Tanzanian nationals for being in the country illegally.
The suspects, who identified themselves as fishermen, were arrested after docking at Mugabo beach in Nyatke constituency, reportedly with the intention of visiting a local prominent fish dealer.
County police commandant Nyaga Muchungu stated that the fish dealer, identified as Ochanda, would be investigated and prosecuted if found to be employing aliens in his firm.
The arrests come at a time when the Kenyan government has adopted stiffer penalties for crossing the common border with Tanzania, including forced quarantine within the country, in efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Tanzania has recently registered many COVID-19 positive cases, prompting Kenya to control the free movement of people in and out of the country to prevent the spread of the virus within local communities.
Regional commissioner James Kianda had ordered scaled-up border surveillance to stop illegal cross-border movements and curb further importation of the virus into the country.
