Nine Ethiopians illegally in Kenya fined Sh100,000 each

The nine Ethiopian nationals arrested on Sunday were on Tuesday fined Sh100,000 each or serve a year in jail for being in the country illegally.

Appearing before Marsabit senior resident magistrate Boaz Ombewa, the nine pleaded guilty with the help of an interpreter after they were found hiding in a bridge in Hula Hula, Marsabit central on Sunday.

Mr Ombewa said: “The court has taken into consideration mitigation adduced by the accused persons. Each accused is fined Sh100,000 in default, serve one year jail term.''

The Ethiopians will be deported back to their country upon paying the fine or serving their jail terms.

Mr Ombewa however, ordered another Ethiopian be taken to hospital for treatment after appearing frail in court.

He is to take his plea on February 17.

The court was told that the accused were nabbed by police officers acting on a tip- off on Sunday at around 8am.

In mitigation the accused pleaded for leniency and asked the court to deport them back to their country.

Meanwhile, two Eritrean nationals were arraigned in court for unlawful presence in Kenya.

Mr Ombewa ordered Zemetei Siele and Abraham Eflem to be taken to United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for determination of their refugee status after they had told the court through an interpreter that they were refugees.

The two were arrested on Sunday in the company of Ethiopians at Hula Hula Bridge without valid travel documents.