Efficacy of Kenya’s Anti-Human Trafficking Policies: Case of the Kenya-Ethiopia Border

This study looks at human trafficking as a significant social problem in Kenya and the counter trafficking efforts. To understand the efficacy of the law, it is essential first to understand human trafficking as a crime and its parameters. However, due to the vast definitions of the vice and the leeway of different states interpreting it according to their values and culture, it is an uphill task. This is not to mean that the crime cannot be understood if it is put in context. For human trafficking to occur, there must be means, purpose, and action for adults, and children, only the means and intentions are considered. Kenya is a tier 2 country, and it is an origin, transit point, and destination state for victims. This study sought to understand if the laws and policies set in place to counter trafficking are efficient. To produce specific results, the study focused on the Kenya-Ethiopia border that is a transit and destination point. A general objective guided the study: To investigate the efficacy of Kenya’s anti-human trafficking policies along the Kenya-Ethiopia border and three specific objectives: 1) To investigate the social strata of the human trafficking victims coming through the Kenya Ethiopia border; 2) To examine the existing national and international human trafficking policies in Kenya 3) To explore the implementation, compliance and enforcement mechanisms of Kenya’s counter-trafficking laws along the Kenya Ethiopia border. Using a mixed research design with both primary and secondary data, the study concluded that Kenya has robust counter-trafficking policies; however, there are significant gaps in implementation, primarily due to lack of awareness and corruption. The lack of efficiency in performance is the key reason Kenya has maintained a tier 2 ranking. The victims' social strata coming through the border indicated vulnerability due to poverty, age, and gender factors.