Kenya launches network to combat human trafficking amid rising cases

The government has raised concerns over the rising number of Kenyans, being lured to travel to India for fake jobs only to end up as sex workers.

This, as cases of others getting lured to Thailand for jobs only to end up in the hands of criminals operating online scamming businesses persist.

"The cases in Thailand are some of our headaches at the moment, it is unfortunate that I think in the past two weeks or so, we have seen families come to report to us that their kin were promised jobs in Thailand. They are now in Myanmar. The mention of Myanmar will make your heart shake because whatever happens in those compounds is not interesting at all," said Emma Gicheha, the Director in charge of the Welfare and Rights Division at the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.

"The other destination that we have noted with cases of Human Trafficking is India. Daily, we are helping people arriving from India. They are travelling on tourist visas, and they have been promised jobs, but once they arrive there, they find it's not a job that you would want to do. You find yourselves in the hands of the mafia and you are forced to do prostitution, let me say it plainly, that is what happens there," she added.

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The directorate's key mandate is to champion the welfare and rights of all Kenyans outside the country.

It is in charge of addressing the numerous distress calls made by Kenyans trapped abroad while seeking opportunities or by their relatives.

Gicheha was speaking during the launch of the Network Against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (NAHUSOM)- Kenya an umbrella body that brings together non-state actors involved in the eradication of Human Trafficking and smuggling of people in Kenya including trade unions, NGOs, private sector players, faith-based organisations and individuals.

She confirmed that trends show there is a rise in human trafficking in the country.

Nimo Ali, Executive Director of Candle of Hope, which operates in both Kenya and Somalia, outlines the core objectives of the newly launched Network Against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (NAHUSOM) Kenya. pic.twitter.com/1QkETL8szc

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"This is because there are quite a number of gaps which I am trusting and hoping that together with you we will be able to enlighten our people because what is lacking is information, as long as they hear there is a job somewhere, they (victims) do not interrogate them, they don't ask what kind of a job it is. As long as they hear there is an opportunity somewhere, they will jump into it. The unfortunate thing is that when they land in the destination country, that is when it dawns on them," she said.

She said there is also a trend where some of the victims have been travelling out of the country without informing their kin, who end up learning about their misfortunes when disaster strikes.

Complementing govt role

The network will aim to collaborate efforts towards making the country hostile to traffickers and smugglers, complementing the role played by the government towards ending the crime.

"As a state department we are doing all we can to fight this, but one thing is for sure, we cannot do this alone bearing in mind that it is a very lucrative crime," she said.

Some of the efforts include running job fairs across the counties, rescuing victims, and the ambitious Labour Mobility Initiative to seek jobs for the many unemployed Kenyans abroad, through safe migratory processes and the upcoming establishment of safe houses in targeted counties.

At the same time, all registered agencies are listed on the National Employment Authority Website.

Kenya serves as a transit point for persons seeking to exit the region legally or illegally, with the annual US State Department's Human Trafficking Report released last year rating the country at tier two which means that while the country is making increasing efforts to eradicate the vice, but more still needs to be done.

Clair Thomas from the US Embassy reiterated the recommendation made to Kenya to significantly increase the availability of short-term shelter, long-term housing, and special services for all trafficking victims, particularly adult males, boys and Kenyan migrant workers returning home.

"This recommendation is to significantly increase the availability of short-term shelter, long-term housing, and special services for all trafficking victims, particularly adult males, boys, and Kenyan migrant workers returning home. I'm hopeful that by working together to raise awareness and improve prevention and protection and providing better support to our survivors, we will be able to reduce the number of people who are in need," she said.

Stronger policies

The convener of the meeting, Nimo Ali who is also the founder of Candle of Hope Foundation based both in Kenya and Somalia said NAHUSOM's mission will be to advocate for stronger policies and legislation, raise public awareness about the plight of survivors and the dangers posed by these practices and build capacities and partnerships, that enable them to respond effectively to the evolving challenges of trafficking and smuggling.

"Through NAHUSOM, we aim to strengthen the bonds between government agencies, CSOs, and community leaders, creating a unified front against this menace. Today's launch is an open invitation to all stakeholders—whether you are here as an organisation, an individual, or a policymaker—to join us in this fight. Together, we can amplify our collective voice and make a greater impact," she said.

Edith Murogo, the network's Ambassador and Executive Director of the Centre for Domestic Training and Development (CDTD) said the launch will offer complimentary safety nets for the beneficiaries of the government's labour mobility initiative.

"It is good for people to migrate, it is good for people to get jobs abroad because one of the biggest contributors to our economy right now is remittances coming from the Diaspora. The network is the voice that will come in and safeguard protection issues, job safety issues to make sure that our people who migrate there outside through government-driven programmes are safe and that there will be no incidents of forced labour and trafficking as well," she said.

The launch was also attended by officials from the Immigration Department, Ministry of Labour and multiple civil society organisations.