At least 20 Kenyans are among more than 5,300 people currently trapped in online scam centres operating near Myanmar's border with Thailand, according to a disturbing new report from a human rights group.
The Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance (CSNHTV) revealed in a letter to Thai police that African nationals, including Kenyans, Ugandans, Rwandans, and Zimbabweans, are being held at four sites inside militia-controlled areas of Myanmar.
The report indicates that the victims are being held in compounds known as Tai Chang, where they were trafficked by criminal networks and forced to work in illegal online scam operations. These operations defraud victims globally and generate billions of dollars annually, according to United Nations estimates.
The group estimates that among those trapped are about 1,600 Chinese nationals, roughly 200 Burmese citizens, 20 Thais, and other foreign nationals from several countries.
This is not a new problem for Kenyans. In recent years, many have fallen victim to these scam centres in Southeast Asia, a persistent issue that has raised serious concerns among authorities and rights groups.
Most of the Kenyans trapped in these compounds were lured by recruitment agents who promised well-paying jobs abroad, only to find themselves held captive and forced into carrying out online fraud.
According to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, at least 357 Kenyans escaped or were rescued from scam compounds in Burma between October 2025 and January 2026, with 253 of them subsequently repatriated.
However, as of March this year, officials indicated that more than 100 Kenyans were still believed to be trapped, while 39 others were serving prison sentences in Myanmar for immigration-related offences.
The human rights group has urged Thai authorities to take further action to dismantle the remaining compounds and rescue those still trapped, noting that some facilities have not yet been targeted despite previous enforcement operations.
The report comes more than a year after Thailand led a regional crackdown that freed about 5,000 people from similar scam hubs in Myanmar's Myawaddy area.
In a significant development, the U.S. Department of State announced in March a reward of up to Ksh1.3 billion ($10 million) for information leading to the seizure or recovery of funds linked to money laundering at these centres. The rights group says large-scale operations have continued, with victims allegedly confined in compounds controlled by armed militia groups.
The situation remains dire for those still trapped, and authorities continue to work on rescue and repatriation efforts. Families of the victims are urged to report any cases to relevant government agencies for assistance.
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