Five Somali immigrants were on Friday arraigned before a Garissa court for being in the country illegally.
The five, Mohamed Ali, Sharif Ahmed, Zamzam Mohamed, Hamdi Aden and Sowdha Mohamud were arrested by police manning the Garissa-Tana bridge barrier on April 8.
The five were charged with being unlawfully present in Kenya contrary to section 53(1) (j) read with 53(2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011.
According to police, the suspects failed to produce their identification documents upon request to do so at the checkpoint.
On further questioning, the police established that they were trying to find their way to Nairobi illegally and without valid travel documents as required by law.
The suspects pleaded guilty and asked for leniency before the Garissa Chief Magistrate, Cosmas Maundu. They asked the Court to allow them travel back to their country.
Maundu, however, found them guilty and fined each of them Sh150, 000 or serve a one-year imprisonment if they fail to raise the amount.
They are to be deported back to their country after paying the fine or serving the jail term.
By Erick Kyalo
