Cases of human trafficking are growing at an alarming rate, with sexual exploitation and labour being the most prevalent forms, Labor Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore has said.
Bore said Kenya is described as a "country of origin, transit and destination in trafficking in persons".
The CS said a recent survey by the National Crime Research Center reveals that trafficking for labour accounted for 96 per cent and 98.3 per cent of all trafficking cases in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
"Trafficking in persons was the most prominent at 64.7 per cent while domestic trafficking was 35.3 per cent," she said.
In external trafficking, the majority of the victims were adults and youthful females aged 18-34 years.
Children were mostly victims of domestic trafficking accounting for four out of 10 victims of domestic trafficking.
The CS spoke on Friday during an event to mark the International Day against Trafficking in Persons.
The day is marked on July 30, every year.
This year's theme is dubbed "Reach every victim of human trafficking, leave no one behind".
It is aimed at raising awareness of "disturbing developments and trends" identified by the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Governments, law enforcement, public services, and civil societies have been urged to enhance their efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims and end impunity.
Poverty, unemployment, ready markets for cheap labour and ignorance and impacts of climate change have been cited as the main factors contributing to human trafficking.
The government has, however, initiated plans to end help end the crime by enacting a counter-trafficking Act that defines the offence and sanctions for traffickers.
The law, the CS says, provides for a jail term of 30 years or a fine of Sh30 million or both for the offenders.
Additionally, the Ministry is refurbishing a facility in Nairobi's Kabete area that will act as a government-run shelter for victims of trafficking in persons.
To strengthen the operationalization of the National Assistance Trust Fund, guidelines have been developed to provide a framework for the disbursement of funds and procedures for assisting identified victims of trafficking.
"We have also established the Counter Trafficking in Persons Advisory Committee which came into effect through the enactment of the Trafficking in Persons Act," she noted.
