US report raises alarm over Kenya’s trafficking prosecution record

The US report says Kenya prosecuted 14 trafficking cases in 2025, down from 44 the previous year.

Kenya convicted six human traffickers in 2025, down from 21 in the previous year, despite identifying more victims and stepping up efforts to assist Kenyans exploited in forced labour abroad, a United States report says.

The 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US Department of State retained Kenya in Tier 2, a category for countries that do not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking but are making significant efforts to do so.

The report credited the government with identifying significantly more trafficking victims, expanding partnerships with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and repatriating Kenyan nationals exploited in online scam operations in Southeast Asia.

However, it raised concerns about declining prosecutions and convictions, alleged official complicity in trafficking crimes and limited protection services, particularly for adult victims.

Source: The Star