The Ministry of Labour has launched an initiative to tackle human trafficking in counties affected by drought.
The protection of Trafficking in Persons in Climate Change Affected Counties Project was launched by CS Florence Bore.
She launched in partnership with The International Organisation for Migration, the UN and the US government.
Trafficking in persons refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a child for the purposes of exploitation.
This can be by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, deception or giving payments or benefits to obtain the consent of the victim of trafficking in persons.
The initial pilot phase will target three villages in Marsabit and one in Garissa county.
This will ensure that vulnerable communities in the four villages have access to resources that will be channeled to fighting the impact of drought and hunger to protect the communities.
The project takes cognizant that trafficking in persons mostly affects low-income and high-poverty areas, especially areas facing drought and famine due to adverse climate changes.
“North Eastern communities facing drought due to climate change. The project will strengthen and channel resources to deserving communities,” Bore said.
“Climate change is a major contributor to trafficking due to high levels of poverty and low economic activities that depend on the weather.”
Present was PS for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs Joseph Motari, Pravina Gurung from IOM, Emrah Guler from the UN, political officer at the US Embassy Claire Thomas and the chairperson of Counter trafficking advisory committee Veronica Mwangi.
According to Kenyan law, a person who traffics another person, for the purpose of exploitation, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than thirty years or to a fine of not less than 30 million shillings or to both and upon subsequent conviction, to imprisonment for life.
