54 foreigners held in Marsabit over illegal entry.

By Nyabande Orwa.

Fifty-four foreign nationals arraigned at the Marsabit Law Courts on charges of unlawfully entering and staying in the country have been remanded in custody pending the mention of their cases on November 5.

Of the suspects, 53 are Eritrean nationals who were arrested on October 24 in Shegel and arraigned on October 26.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Christine Wekesa, the suspects pleaded guilty to the charges and asked the court to grant them a safe place to live in Kenya. Six of them are minors, and the court is awaiting a report from the Children’s Department on their circumstances.

Separately, the court has set November 5 for the mention of the case of another foreign national, Flimon Kflom, who was arrested in Jirime, Marsabit Central, on suspicion of staying in the country without a permit.

He has also pleaded guilty to the charge. The court is awaiting direction and details from the refugee services department on the suspects’ request to be allowed to remain in the country and be granted asylum.