NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – Kenya’s Immigration officers on Wednesday raided China Global Network Africa (CGTN) headquarters in Nairobi as the operations against foreigners working in Kenya illegally intensified.
According to the local media, several foreigners who are working at the station have been arrested in the raid which took place Wednesday afternoon.
The officers who were reportedly armed with automatic rifles stormed the CGTN base in Nairobi’s Kilimani area.
Some of the local staff at the station said the officers paralysed operations of the station for hours after they ordered the workers to assemble to be checked as several plain cloth officers ransacked the area.
The officers reportedly demanded foreigners verify their documents and work permits.
CGTN authorities have not yet commented on the raid on the station in Nairobi.
#China TV station raided in #Kenya https://t.co/SpCX9xYXxR Armed officers believed to be Kenyan police have raided the offices of China Global Television Network (#CGTN) in #Nairobi and arrested several expatriates. pic.twitter.com/xhxzwRQZA6
— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) September 5, 2018
The Kenyan government has intensified its crackdown on those with illegal permits.
Hundreds of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers were arrested around the country.
The raids have intensified since August 27 when the Immigration Department set up the hotline number for citizens to report irregular migrants.
Amnesty International has condemned the move and urged the Kenyan government to halt the ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrant workers.
The rights group wants the hotline 0745660151 for residents to alert authorities of the presence of illegal migrants shut down.
“This hotline should be immediately shut down. All those arrested in the crackdown should have their detention reviewed,” Seif Magango of the agency said.
The Amnesty Internationals’ deputy director for East Africa it is extremely worrying that citizens are being encouraged to call a hotline to report cases of suspected undocumented migrants.
He said that the authorities’ action targeting irregular migrants has mostly affected refugees and asylum seekers.
This came after hundreds of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers were arrested around the country.
Don’t expect to see Africa Live 10GMT bulletin today. It was cancelled after Kenyan immigration officials raided CGTN Africa HQ earlier this morning checking work permits. Colleagues demanded officials identify themselves, they refused and rather tried intimidate staff pic.twitter.com/yZGDzNWINY
— Vauldi Carelse (@vauldicarelse) September 5, 2018
CGTN Africa head office in Nairobi raided by Kenyan plain clothes police demanding id's & work permits from staff
Source https://t.co/ndHHi3uYTC#Kenya
*CGTN Africa is the African bureau of China Global Television Network pic.twitter.com/HfMI8lOgm3
— Zim Locals (@zimlocals) September 5, 2018
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