Detectives from the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) have launched a manhunt for an Assistant Director of Immigration Services, Mr. John Pario, who is now a wanted suspect after failing to appear in court for plea taking in a human trafficking case.
According to investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mr. Pario was initially arrested on April 2, 2025, following a probe into the trafficking of two individuals to Myanmar in 2024. At the time, he was stationed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where he allegedly facilitated the victims’ departure despite being aware that they had previously been denied entry into Thailand under similar circumstances.
Investigations revealed what authorities describe as a coordinated trafficking operation. Forensic analysis reportedly uncovered sustained communication between Mr. Pario and a co-suspect, suggesting deliberate planning.
Detectives further allege that he received the victims’ photographs and travel documents in advance, enabling him to identify and clear them through immigration controls. He is also accused of attempting to assist the victims in evading scrutiny upon their return to Kenya.
Financial trails linked to the case are also under investigation, with authorities indicating that transactions connected to the facilitation process were identified.
Statements from the victims reportedly confirm that they were referred to Mr. Pario through a wider trafficking network, strengthening the case against him.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) subsequently approved charges against the suspect. He was released on a cash bail of KSh 50,000 and formally listed as the third accused in a criminal case before the Kahawa Law Courts. The charges relate to facilitating the exit of persons from Kenya contrary to Section 7 of the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act No. 8 of 2010.
On March 24, 2026, Mr. Pario was processed at DCI Headquarters and instructed to appear in court the following day. However, plea taking was deferred to April 1, 2026. He failed to attend court on that date, prompting the court to forfeit his bail and issue a warrant for his arrest.
Authorities have now declared him a wanted person, with efforts underway to trace and apprehend him. The case highlights ongoing concerns about human trafficking networks operating through official channels and the role of insiders in facilitating illegal movements across borders.
