By Eddah Waithaka
The Network Against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (NAHUSOM) has today, raised alarm over the escalating cases of human trafficking for forced criminality in Kenya, urging the government to take immediate action.
Recent reports confirm that rebel groups in Myanmar have trafficked Kenyans and other foreign nationals and forced them into online scams, fraud, and other cybercrimes.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs confirmed these allegations in a February 18, 2025 statement, revealing that victims face extreme coercion in fraud centers located in conflict zones, making rescue operations difficult.
Traffickers are now expanding their tactics, moving beyond forced labor and sexual exploitation to forcing victims into cybercrime.
This trend poses a direct threat to Kenya’s national security, global cyber safety, and human rights.
Speaking during a press conference today, NAHUSOM acknowledged the government’s efforts to repatriate victims but insisted that more must be done.
The organization demands the immediate establishment of a Special Inquiry Commission that will investigate the trafficking of Kenyans to Myanmar and other high-risk regions, implement preventive measures to curb forced criminality, hold accountable the recruitment agencies, institutions, and individuals involved in trafficking, and strengthen protections for migrant workers while improving reintegration support for survivors.
Read More On: https://africawatchnews.co.ke/nairobi-hospital-board-vows-to-uphold-integrity-amid-governance-overhaul/
NAHUSOM pledged to nominate experts to support the commission’s work, emphasizing the need for urgent collaboration between the government and civil society.
“We must act now to protect Kenyans from these criminal networks,” NAHUSOM stated. “No more citizens should suffer under modern-day slavery.”
The call comes amid ongoing reports of Kenyan domestic workers facing abuse and death in Gulf countries, further highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms.
Immediate action is critical; Kenya must safeguard its citizens and dismantle trafficking networks before they destroy more lives.
Read More Stories At: https://africawatchnews.co.ke/