Editor's Review

  • The businessman was found in possession of 22 Ethiopian nationals believed to be victims of human trafficking.

The government has impounded assets worth millions of shillings from businessman Peter Mugi Kamau over human trafficking suspicions. 

Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) was allowed to seize five vehicles reportedly acquired using funds from human trafficking.

Peter Mugi Kamau, was arrested in October 2020 harbouring 22 Ethiopians.

“Investigations established that the respondent (Kamau) devised a complex criminal network of deceiving, enticing, trafficking, transporting and harbouring vulnerable persons through the international organised criminal network for purposes of exploiting and obtaining gain or profits from the victims of human trafficking,” the ARA said.

Justice James Wakiaga ordered a freeze of about Sh400,000 held in three accounts belonging to Mr Kamau.

“Investigations further established that the bank accounts were used as conduits of laundering proceeds of crime from the illegal trafficking in persons by the respondent,” the court documents declared.

During his arrest in 2020, police conducted a search at a house in Umoja estate Mwihoko in Githurai Kimbo where they found 22 Ethiopians who were to be ferried to various destinations.

According to the police, the 22 Ethiopian nationals were victims of human trafficking and were being held illegally by Mr Kamau.