Members of a task force set up to initiate the development of a
national action plan to combat human trafficking in Kenya are, with
the support of IOM, being trained tomorrow on methods to counter
human trafficking in the east African country.

IOM will then provide further assistance by hosting drafting
sessions of a national action plan, leading up to a presentation of
a draft plan to a national steering committee on countering human
trafficking in September this year.

Kenya has been identified as a source, transit, and destination
country for victims of trafficking. Kenyans are trafficked to other
African countries as well as to Europe, North America, and the
Middle East. Nationals from other East African and the Horn
countries, as well as from Asia, also transit Kenya en route to
other destinations or are taken to and exploited in Kenya.

In addition, internal trafficking of Kenyans is considered to be
widespread, particularly from rural to urban areas such as Nairobi
and Mombasa for exploitation in domestic labour and commercial sex.
The majority of Kenyan victims are either trafficked or introduced
to their traffickers by family members or friends, with the most
common method of recruitment being promises of good jobs or
education. Once in a trafficking situation, victims report
overwork, physical and sexual abuse, non-payment or under-payment,
poor working conditions, and restricted or no access to
schooling.

The national steering committee was set up recently by the
Kenyan government with technical support from IOM to combat the
problem of human trafficking in the country and comprises
government ministries, international organizations,
non-governmental and faith-based organizations. Its main purpose is
the promotion and coordination of counter-trafficking activities
and to raise the profile of human trafficking issues in public and
policy circles.

Since 2005, when IOM began to actively support
counter-trafficking efforts in the country, it has carried out
public information campaigns and awareness raising events with new
campaigns about to begin shortly. In addition, IOM has conducted
training for stakeholders in the counter-trafficking effort, the
media and law enforcement and provided technical support to the
Kenyan government in its work to effectively manage safe labour
migration. Support is also being given to authorities in the
preparation of draft counter-trafficking legislation based on the
Palermo Protocol, which is aimed at preventing, suppressing and
punishing human trafficking and is a supplement to the UN
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

For more information please contact:

Heather Komenda

Tel: +254.20.444.4174

E-mail: "mailto:hkomenda@iom.int">hkomenda@iom.int