Tragic Journey: The Perils of Migrant Smuggling in Lake Turkana

Senait Mebrehtu mourns her 14-year-old daughter, Hiyab, who drowned while attempting to cross Lake Turkana to escape Eritrea’s oppressive regime. The increasing use of the lake as a smuggling route underscores the risks taken by many in pursuit of safety, revealing a harrowing network of traffickers exploiting desperate families.

As the sun dipped below Lake Turkana's horizon, Senait Mebrehtu knelt in sorrow, casting flowers into the rolling greenish waters in memory of her teenage daughter, Hiyab. The 14-year-old met a tragic fate last year while attempting to reach Kenya through a hazardous pathway employed by human traffickers.

Two years after fleeing religious persecution, Ms. Mebrehtu returned to this northern region of Kenya, seeking closure regarding her daughter’s untimely death during a perilous late-night crossing. The girl had embarked on the journey with her sister, who miraculously survived, only to recount the harrowing tale of their ill-fated attempt to reach Kenya.

"If the smugglers had warned me about the dangers of Lake Turkana, I would never have allowed my daughters to make this harrowing journey," Ms. Mebrehtu lamented from the western shore. After fleeing Eritrea’s militarized regime and seeking asylum in Nairobi with her younger children, she was unable to take her elder daughters, close to conscription age, with her.

In their desperation to join their mother, the girls sought help from relatives who engaged smugglers for what would morph into a treacherous escapade. The journey led them through northern Ethiopia before culminatively heading south towards Lake Turkana.

A female smuggler, who shared insights under the veil of anonymity, disclosed that Lake Turkana has emerged as a preferred smuggling route in recent times due to tightened security on roads. She described their clandestine operations, where traffickers capitalize on the vulnerability of migrants, offering a "digital route" – a new yet perilous pathway.

Her admissions laid bare the grim reality: the smugglers earn approximately $1,500 for each migrant they transport, a formidable sum relative to Kenya's average monthly wage. In the midst of the illicit trade, she cautioned parents against allowing their children to embark on such journeys alone, reflecting the moral conflict inherent in her role.

An Eritrean migrant, who wished to remain unnamed, also recounted his experiences that horrific night when Hiyab’s boat capsized as it battled fierce winds. "Their boat was overwhelmed, and I could only watch as calamity unfolded," he recalled.

Senait Mebrehtu decried the smugglers she believes bear responsibility for the tragedy, alleging reckless overloading of a vessel designed for far fewer passengers. Experiences further revealed a somber truth: bodies of migrants had been spotted floating in the waters of Lake Turkana, often left unrecognized.

With 345,000 Eritreans presently registered as refugees in East Africa, many fleeing a government entrenched in military authoritarianism, the flow of people seeking refuge shows no sign of abating. For many, Kenya and Uganda have become preferred destinations amidst ongoing conflict and persecution in the broader region.

While some migrants manage to find safety and stability in Kenya, many view the country merely as a stepping stone to other nations, navigating through holding houses where they face additional hardships, including exploitation and neglect.

The smuggler, fully aware of the chaos wrought by her actions, remained steadfast in her operations, opting not to exit the lucrative venture. For Senait Mebrehtu, however, there remains no peace in her heart – only unanswered prayers and a lingering desire for deliverance from suffering afflicting families like hers.

"We endure what every Eritrean family faces," she shared in anguish, voicing hope for deliverance from their plight.