Study warns child trafficking is rising in Kenya
Child trafficking is increasing in Kenya despite existing laws and programmes aimed at protecting children from exploitation, with poverty, family instability, displacement and online grooming emerging as major drivers, a new study has found.
The study warns that the true scale of child trafficking remains unclear because of inconsistencies in data held by government agencies, potentially hampering efforts to understand the problem and develop effective responses.
The study on child trafficking in Kenya was conducted by National Crime Research Center.
Researchers examined child trafficking in 13 counties identified as hotspots: Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kwale, Narok, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kakamega, Wajir, Garissa, Kisii and Migori.
A total of 390 people participated in the study through key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
They included government officials, security agencies, civil society organisations, community leaders, religious organisations, child protection actors, women’s groups and other stakeholders.
The study found that most respondents believed child trafficking had become more prevalent in recent years, citing increasing cases of child labour, sexual exploitation, forced begging, illegal adoption and the movement of children across borders.
Girls disproportionately affected
The study identified different trafficking risks based on the age and gender of children.
Boys aged between one and five were reported to be particularly vulnerable to illegal adoption, while older boys were increasingly exposed to labour exploitation and recruitment into criminal activities.
Girls aged between five and 17 were found to be disproportionately affected by sexual exploitation, domestic labour and forced marriage.
Children with disabilities were identified as particularly vulnerable to forced begging, especially in urban centres such as Nairobi, Kiambu and Kisumu.
Overall, the researchers found that girls were disproportionately affected by trafficking across most regions.
Counties serve as source, transit and destination points
The study found that child trafficking networks operate across county and international borders, with some counties serving simultaneously as sources, transit points and destinations.
Kiambu, Nairobi, Narok, Kilifi, Kwale, Migori, Kajiado and Nakuru were identified as major destination areas, driven by demand for child labour in agriculture, manufacturing, domestic work and small businesses, as well as sexual exploitation linked to tourism and urban economies.
Garissa, Wajir, Kisumu and Kakamega were identified as key source areas, with poverty, drought, limited economic opportunities, displacement and high numbers of out-of-school children contributing to vulnerability.
Migori, Narok and Kajiado were identified as important transit corridors, particularly because of their proximity to Tanzania, while Nakuru was identified as a significant transit point because of its major transport routes.
The study also found that trafficking networks extend beyond Kenya into other parts of East Africa and countries including Somalia, Libya and Saudi Arabia.
Kenya is also described as a destination for children trafficked from neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
Poverty a major driver
Poverty emerged as one of the principal drivers of child trafficking.
Researchers found that traffickers exploit economically vulnerable families through promises of employment, education, better living conditions and financial support.
Other risk factors include family instability, parental absence, neglect, inadequate supervision, negative peer influence and disability.
The study also identified climate-related migration, drought, communal conflict, forced evictions and displacement as factors that weaken family and community protection systems.
Harmful cultural practices, including child marriage and female genital mutilation, were also identified as contributing to trafficking risks in some communities.
The researchers found that children attempting to escape such practices can become vulnerable to traffickers who exploit their circumstances.
Social media creates new recruitment pathways
The study warns that technological developments have created new avenues for traffickers to identify, groom and recruit children.
Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp were identified as platforms increasingly being used in online grooming and recruitment.
The researchers said unsupervised access to digital devices has increased children’s exposure to potential traffickers, creating a need for prevention measures that address both physical and online environments.
Sexual exploitation and forced labour
Financial gain was identified as the main motivation behind child trafficking.
Sexual exploitation was identified as a major form of trafficking, particularly affecting girls aged between 13 and 17.
Labour exploitation affects both boys and girls across several regions.
The study also documented cases involving forced begging, drug peddling, pickpocketing and other criminal activities.
Researchers further reported allegations of children being recruited and indoctrinated by extremist networks in parts of Garissa, Wajir, Nairobi and Kwale.
The study also identified reported cases of trafficking for ritualistic purposes and allegations involving children with albinism being moved across borders for exploitation linked to ritual beliefs.
Family members among alleged facilitators
The study found that trafficking networks involve different actors, ranging from individuals to organised and institutional networks.
Parents, guardians, relatives and other people known to children may knowingly or unknowingly facilitate trafficking, according to the findings.
Recruitment agencies, children’s charitable institutions and private businesses were also identified as entities that can potentially facilitate trafficking by providing logistical support, transportation and financial networks.
Traffickers reportedly target children who are orphaned, displaced, out of school, economically deprived or affected by abuse and neglect.
They then use deceptive promises of education, employment, safety or better living conditions to recruit them.
Trafficking intensifies during holidays
The study found that child trafficking occurs throughout the year but can intensify during school holidays and periods of economic or social disruption.
Traffickers reportedly use established networks to move children from source communities to destinations while attempting to evade law enforcement.
Motorcycles were identified as a commonly used mode of transport because they can access remote and difficult terrain. Private vehicles, buses and trucks are also reportedly used.
Porous borders, remote roads, forest paths and areas with limited security presence provide opportunities for traffickers to move children undetected.
Weak enforcement hampers fight
The study identified several challenges undermining efforts to prevent and prosecute child trafficking.
Limited public awareness, underreporting, fear of retaliation, inadequate witness protection and lengthy court processes were cited as major obstacles.
Researchers also reported allegations of interference with investigations and prosecutions, including collusion between traffickers and family members, intimidation of victims and reliance on informal dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Weak border surveillance and numerous unofficial crossing points were also identified as facilitating the movement of children.
The study further cited coordination gaps among government agencies, alleged corruption involving some officials, inadequate staffing and insufficient operational resources.
The shortage of government-run rescue centres and specialised support services was identified as another challenge, increasing the risk of re-trafficking and making it harder for victims to participate in legal proceedings.
Rescue and awareness programmes helping
Despite the challenges, the study found that Kenya has several interventions aimed at preventing and responding to child trafficking.
Community sensitisation programmes have helped families and children identify trafficking risks, recruitment tactics and reporting mechanisms.
Economic empowerment programmes in counties including Kakamega, Kisumu, Narok and Migori were also identified as important prevention measures because they address poverty and livelihood insecurity.
Rescue centres operated largely by NGOs in partnership with government agencies provide shelter, medical care, psychosocial support and protection to victims.
Reintegration and repatriation programmes involving the State Department for Children Services, National Police Service, Judiciary, Immigration Department, children’s institutions and faith-based organisations were also identified.
The Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) was described as an important tool for documenting cases, identifying trafficking hotspots and tracking trends.
Labour inspections were also found to contribute to identifying child labour and exploitation, although the study said inadequate staffing and logistical resources limit their effectiveness.
Study calls for child protection desks in every police station
The researchers have recommended the establishment of child and gender desks in every police station at sub-county level.
The National Police Service, in collaboration with the State Department for Children Services, should ensure officers working in the desks receive specialised training in child protection and trafficking.
The study also calls for sustained nationwide awareness campaigns targeting children, parents and communities through public forums, radio, television and newspapers.
The government has further been urged to strengthen public awareness of legal adoption procedures to reduce illegal and informal adoption arrangements that expose children to trafficking.
Stronger border controls
The researchers recommend that Immigration, the National Police Service, National Government Administration Officers and the State Department for Children Services map porous border points and trafficking routes within Kenya and along neighbouring countries.
Multi-agency border units should conduct regular patrols along unofficial routes used to transport children, according to the recommendations.
The study also calls for increased investment in rescue and shelter facilities and the closure of unlawful or non-compliant private rescue centres and orphanages.
East African Community countries have been urged to establish stronger mechanisms for the repatriation and reintegration of children trafficked across borders.
Better data sharing needed
The study recommends that the National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and State Department for Children Services strengthen real-time information sharing.
Existing systems such as CPIMS should be leveraged to support intelligence-led investigations and identify trafficking patterns.
The researchers also recommend integrating anti-trafficking education into the school curriculum and establishing child rights clubs in schools.
The government has further been urged to establish state-run children’s rescue centres in each former provincial region to provide temporary care for vulnerable children and trafficking survivors.
The study recommends increased staffing and resources for labour inspectors, particularly in sectors identified as having high levels of child exploitation, including mining, agriculture, domestic work and the informal sector.
At the regional level, it calls for permanent cross-border task forces and harmonised legal and operational standards among EAC member states to improve investigations, victim protection, repatriation and reintegration.
The researchers conclude that the most effective response to child trafficking will require a combination of prevention, protection, prosecution and socio-economic support, backed by reliable data, stronger institutions and sustained funding.
