Corruption blamed for human trafficking
A screengrab of the US State Department website.
What you need to know:
- The report names the country as a source, transit and destination for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.
- Although no country specific figures were available, the report notes that 10,096 people were trafficked in the continent last year, compared to 10,043 victims in 2012.
Corruption and lack of proper laws has made Kenya a haven for human traffickers, according to a US report.
The US State Department’s 2014 trafficking in persons report has placed Kenya on a watch list for the third consecutive year as a country that has not shown sufficient drive to combat human trafficking. Police and border officials are corrupt and let in those perpetrating the vice, it notes.
The report names the country as a source, transit and destination for men, women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.
“Kenya does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and although it is making significant efforts to do so, it has not shown any evidence of addressing human trafficking,” reads the report.
REGIONAL EFFORTS
Although no country specific figures were available, the report notes that 10,096 people were trafficked in the continent last year, compared to 10,043 victims in 2012.
Other countries in the region that have been placed on red alert include Tanzania. Uganda and Ethiopia were named as countries that have significantly reduced trafficking.
“Corruption and lack of understanding of human trafficking issues among police and other public officials continued to prevent trafficking offenders — including those involved in fraudulent recruitment for overseas employment — from being brought to justice,” it notes.
