Police round up foreigners in city
Somali women in veils walk along the main street in the Eastleigh neighbourhood of Nairobi, June 25, 2009. Somali refugees and some Hisbul Islam fighters who are fleeing fighting in Mogadishu after their fallout with the Al Shabaab, have crossed into the country and some are said to be living in the estate. REUTERS
Police backed by heavily armed General Service Unit officers conducted a swoop on illegal immigrants in Eastleigh estate over the weekend.
Police sources privy to the swoop but who declined to be quoted revealed that the crackdown was conducted after intelligence revealed that Somali refugees and some Hisbul Islam fighters who are fleeing fighting in Mogadishu after their fallout with the Al Shabaab, had crossed into the country and some were living in the estate.
Only last week, the Al Shabaab bombed Mogadishu leaving three ministers and several other civilians dead.
Over 300 people of Somali origin found without identification documents or the United Nations High Commission for Refugees vetting document were arrested.
The operation started on Friday evening and was conducted in all buildings including private homes, guest houses, entertainment spots and public service vehicles.
A resident, Mr Abdi Lole, said: “There was a major crackdown in Eastleigh. GSU officers were rounding up anyone who did not have identification papers or with documents that looked improper and putting them in lorries.”
Being held
Those arrested were taken to Pangani, Muthaiga and Kasarani police stations, where they were still being held as vetting continued.
“I counted at least 12 police lorries full of people being driven to Pangani Police Station,” Mr Lole said.
A Nation spot check yesterday showed that all of them were locked up at Kasarani Police Station. Their relatives camped outside the station.
Police sources said those without documents would be charged in court today.
