Eight aliens who were arrested along the Moyale-Marsabit- Isiolo highway have been charged in a Marsabit court for being in the country unlawfully.
The suspects, Samwel Zeremariam, Sirak Alemsegd, Mezekr Tesfu,, Delina Weldu, Merhawi Tesfalm, Meron Semere, Fanuel Weldu, Yohanes Tsegay all Eritreans pleaded guilty to a charge of being found in the country without valid travel documents.
The accused, all Eritreans, however told Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewat that they were asylum seekers escaping insecurity in their country.
The prosecution lead by Dan Mwangangi said the foreigners were arrested on January 13, this year at a road block in Merille, Marsabit South sub-county reportedly enroute to Nairobi.
“The accused who are Eritrean nationals were found in Kenya without valid permits or passports from the immigration department,” said the prosecutor.
The magistrate ordered that the accused persons be taken for refugee status determination at the Refugee Affairs Secretariat, a directive that the OCS Laisamis was asked to ensure is complied with.
The accused will be remanded in custody until the 25th of this month when the case will be mentioned.
By Sebastian Miriti
