Kenyan IT Worker Detained in Military Camp on Myanmar Border

A Kenyan family is seeking urgent help after their relative was detained in a military camp along the Myanmar–Thailand border.

The man had travelled to Asia believing he had secured an IT-related job, but according to a statement from his brother on Saturday, 29 November 2025, he was intercepted on arrival in Myanmar and taken to a facility known as the Apollo camp. His passport was confiscated, leaving him without identification or the ability to move freely.

The brother said the family has been able to communicate with him only through a smuggled mobile phone, which he used to send messages via Telegram. He reported that those being held had their passports and phones seized by military personnel and are now stranded at the border. The family is unsure whether to seek assistance from the Thai embassy, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or international agencies.

This case follows the earlier arrest of another Kenyan, Mbuvi Maxwell Mutiso, at Mae Sot Airport in Thailand. Mutiso, who had previously been deported to Kenya, was detained in August 2025 after attempting to re-enter Thailand using a passport with a falsified entry stamp.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has voiced concern over the continued rise in such incidents, noting that citizens who ignore official travel advisories face the risk of arrest, exploitation, or serious harm. Families affected by these schemes face significant challenges when seeking help across multiple jurisdictions.