A police officer assists a man arrested during a security operation along 12th street in Eastleigh on April 08,2014 board a lorry. PHOTO/DENISH OCHIENG (NAIROBI) 

By PHILIP BWAYO

Police in Trans Nzoia have arrested 48 refugees of Sudanese and Somali origin who have been illegally staying outside their camps in an ongoing security operation.

The refugees, who were from the Kakuma and IFO refugee camps, were arrested during security checks in public service vehicles and raids on residential areas where some of them had rented houses.

“Some of them were arrested in a roadblock where they were headed to Kitale from the Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana County,” area police commandant Lilian Okembo told journalists in her office.

“We found out that most of the refugees we have arrested had started operating businesses outside camps and occasionally sneak back to camps,” said the police boss.

Some of those arrested have no identification to ascertain why they are in the country.

She said those found with documents indicating their refugee status have been handed to the Department of Refugee Affairs to be taken back to the camps while those with no papers will be arraigned in court.

Landlords in the region have been advised not to rent out their houses to tenants without ascertaining their identity.

Source: Daily Nation