Kenya has made notable progress in combating human trafficking, but significant challenges persist, according to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report. The country remains a major source, transit, and destination point for human trafficking, with the government falling short of the minimum standards required for elimination. As a result, Kenya has been placed on Tier 2.
Over the past year, authorities investigated 42 new cases, a significant increase from the 22 reported in 2023. Prosecutions also rose, with 44 cases and 21 convictions, compared to just three the previous year. Additionally, the government identified 195 victims, including 154 Kenyans exploited abroad, and funded their repatriation. A partially state-run shelter was opened for trafficking survivors, and the government partnered with NGOs to assist 321 victims.
Despite these gains, critical shortcomings remain. Protection services for adults are minimal, and survivors often decline to testify due to fear of reprisals or lack of long-term support. Allegations of official complicity persist, with no law enforcement action taken against complicit officials in 2024. Fraudulent labor recruiters continue to prey on Kenyans seeking jobs abroad, particularly in the Middle East, where conditions are dire. At least 274 Kenyan workers have died in Saudi Arabia over the past five years.
Women and children are the most vulnerable to human trafficking in Kenya. Children are forced into sex trafficking, labor, and other forms of exploitation, while women and underage girls are smuggled into Nairobi for sexual exploitation or domestic servitude. Along porous borders, migrants from neighboring countries are exploited locally or trafficked southwards. The report urges Kenya to strengthen protections for migrant workers abroad, remove legal loopholes, and crack down on fraudulent recruitment agencies.
The Kenyan government must take stronger action to support victims, enforce laws, and oversee labor migration to combat human trafficking effectively. Without these efforts, Kenya will remain a trafficking hotspot in the region. The report’s findings highlight the need for continued international cooperation and support to address the complex issues surrounding human trafficking. By acknowledging progress and addressing shortcomings, Kenya can work towards eliminating human trafficking and protecting its most vulnerable citizens.
