The government has cautioned Kenyans planning to travel to Malaysia against unscrupulous travel agencies luring people under the pretext of securing job opportunities in the Asian country.
In a statement on Thursday, the Kenyan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur disclosed that it had received reports that several Kenyans were stranded after being lured to travel to Malaysia.
According to the commission, unscrupulous agencies took advantage of the 30-day visa-free entry to Malaysia, leaving the unsuspecting Kenyans stranded and subject to overstay fines.
Emphasising the matter, the commission urged Kenyans planning to travel to Malaysia that the 30-day visa-free entry was only based on a bilateral arrangement of reciprocity.
Kenyans wishing to stay more than 30 days were advised to obtain a valid visa to avoid being charged with overstaying and other related offences.
“This is to caution that any overstay case is an offence under the Immigration Act and if arrested, one is liable for up to six months imprisonment or a fine as may be determined by the court,” the commission warned.
Addressing the issue, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Kuala Lumpur urged Kenyans to conduct due diligence before making travel arrangements.
“The High Commission remains available to assist in conducting the necessary due diligence on any job opportunities in Malaysia or the countries of accreditation,” the commissioner added.
Recently, many Kenyans have been travelling to Malaysia mainly due to its new visa-free entry policy for short stays, making it a convenient travel destination for leisure and business opportunities.
Additionally, the recent launch of direct flights between Nairobi and Kuala Lumpur has further improved people's travel between the two nations.
Meanwhile, the latest occurrence resonates with a similar incident in October last year when the Government of Kenya cautioned individuals against travelling to Myanmar due to mistreatment.
The government was forced to intervene after 10 Kenyans who had travelled to the Asian country were sold off to cartels who turned them into slaves.
Despite attempts by the government to lobby for their release, the cartel bosses alleged that they bought the Kenyans at Ksh820,000 and thus must be compensated first.
The Kenyan Embassy in Maynmar also reached out to the families of the ten, however, the mission to rescue the citizens faced immense challenges because of the dangerous environment where the victims had been held hostage.
