Senait Mebrehtu's visit to Lake Turkana, where her daughter Hiyab drowned during a smuggling attempt, reveals the heartbreaking stories of families torn apart by conflict and the exploitative networks capitalizing on their plight. As dangers persist on this treacherous route, calls for increased awareness and intervention amplify the tragedy of migrant journeys.
Tragedy in Lake Turkana: A Mother's Grief and the Dark World of Smuggling
Tragedy in Lake Turkana: A Mother's Grief and the Dark World of Smuggling
As a mother mourns her daughter lost to migrant smugglers in Kenya, the perilous journey of Eritrean refugees shines a light on the expanding smuggling networks exploiting desperate families.
As the sun dipped below the horizon of Lake Turkana, Senait Mebrehtu stood in mourning, tossing flowers into the murky waters in remembrance of her teenage daughter, Hiyab, who tragically drowned while attempting to reach Kenya through the treacherous routes favored by human smugglers. Last year, the 14-year-old lost her life during a perilous voyage across the lake, an incident that highlights the dangerous paths many Eritrean migrants take in their desperate search for asylum.
Senait, a devout Pentecostal Christian from Eritrea who previously sought refuge in Kenya three years ago, made the heart-wrenching trip to northern Kenya to understand the circumstances of her daughter’s death. Hiyab had been accompanied by her sister, who miraculously survived the late-night journey over the expansive lake that is notorious for its sudden and powerful winds.
"If the smugglers had informed me about the substantial and hazardous lake in Kenya, I would have never allowed my daughters to embark on this trek," Senait lamented on the shore as she reflected on the past.
In a bid to escape the oppressive military conscription prevalent in Eritrea, where the government maintains a tight grip on power and practitioners of religion often face persecution, Senait had initially fled Eritrea with two of her younger children, leaving behind her two elder daughters. Hoping for a better future for her family, she consulted relatives, who suggested hiring smugglers to bring her daughters to safety.
The girls' journey commenced with weeks of perilous travel by foot and road through Eritrea and Ethiopia, ultimately landing them on the shores of Lake Turkana. A female smuggler involved in this burgeoning underground network reported to the BBC that Lake Turkana's treacherous waters have become a common route for migrants, with smugglers collecting hefty fees for their services—approximately $1,500 for each individual, a sum far exceeding the average Kenyan salary.
As efforts to fortify patrols on Kenyan roads escalate, more smugglers are turning to Lake Turkana for illegal crossings. The smuggler, who requested anonymity, described the tragic lack of regard displayed by many traffickers, voicing her concerns for the safety of the migrants she assists.
Osman, a fellow Eritrean migrant who witnessed Hiyab's boat capsizing, recalled the chilling moment as the vessel, overloaded and malfunctioning, succumbed to the elements, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals on board.
Senait lays the responsibility of her daughter’s death squarely on the shoulders of the smugglers, citing gross negligence in their decision to overload a boat designed for far fewer passengers. In July 2024, during a visit to Lomekwi, locals reported seeing the bodies of migrants believed to be Eritreans drifting in the lake, a grim testament to the perils inherent in their perilous journey.
The grim state of migration continues to escalate, with the UN refugee agency’s recent data revealing over 345,000 Eritrean refugees in East Africa, a crisis fueled by persistent regional conflicts, particularly in Ethiopia and Sudan. As the paths to safety shift, smugglers thrive, often capitalizing on innocent lives, with human trafficking networks extending their influence throughout Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and beyond.
While some migrants secure refuge in Kenya, many see it merely as a stopover en route to destinations like Uganda, Rwanda, or even further afield to Europe and North America. In clandestine holding houses, migrants are often exploited further—expected to pay for sustenance under grim conditions, with reports of fatalities stemming from hunger and neglect.
Despite the bleak realities faced by many, the story of Senait serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities experienced by families amid such suffering, along with the urgent need for greater awareness of the trafficking scourge that exploits desperation. "We have gone through what every Eritrean family is experiencing," Senait reflected solemnly. "May God heal our land and deliver us from all this."
