21 Nepali girls rescued from Kenyan strip clubs

Published On: July 21, 2018 06:10 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 20: Twenty-one Nepali girls trafficked to Kenya and employed at strip clubs there were rescued on Thursday, according to Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

DCI detectives raided two famous strip clubs of Westlands in Nairobi, Kenya, and rescued Nepali girls working there illegally, according to the local media.

“Detectives from the (DCI) Anti-Human Trafficking & Child Protection Unit and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit last night raided two clubs in Mogotio Road, Westlands and rescued 21 Nepalese girls who had been trafficked to Kenya for exploitation,” Directorate of Criminal Investigations-Kenya tweeted on Friday.

Citing the local police sources, local media including The Star and Nairobi News have said the girls have been taken to a victim rescue centre run by the Transnational Crime Squad for trial.

"If it is proved they are in the country legally, they will be released. But if not, then the agency will decide on whether to take them back to Nepal," Kenyan online portal Capital News has quoted a source as saying.

The police have tweeted stating that three perpetrators were arrested and are likely to face charges for various offences under the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act (Act No.8 of 2010). The Directorate of Criminal Investigations declined to comment further due to security reasons. "For security reasons we can't disclose more. For more information please contact your embassy here in Kenya," DCI responded to Republica's query on Twitter message.

The Non Resident Nepali Association, Kenya chapter's Treasurer Hikmat Karki confirmed the arrest of 21 Nepali girls in the country. “It is true that they have been rescued. We have approached the authorities concerned and are trying to find the details. We are told that it was a regular raid by the police,” Karki said quoting Nepali honorary consul general in Kenya, Jimmi Oscar.

Earlier a Kenyan couple and their daughter were arrested from the strip clubs in December 2017 for their alleged involvement in trafficking seven Nepali and three Indian nationals.