This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
Kenya's Moyale border post is a hub for human trafficking, with police officers allegedly complicit in the smuggling of migrants into the country. According to a report by the US Department of State, Kenya is a source, transit, and destination country for migrants, with traffickers often obtaining identity documents from complicit officials and police taking bribes to warn traffickers of impending operations.
Investigations by undercover reporters have revealed the involvement of police officers in the clandestine trade, with agents in Moyale referring them to a police officer identified as Hussein, who could arrange a police vehicle to smuggle migrants to Isiolo. The officer was hesitant to meet the reporters unless they had already recruited the migrants, highlighting the complexity of the issue.
Despite the efforts of the police and immigration department, their efforts are uncoordinated, creating a conducive environment for trafficking. Immigration officials have also been adversely mentioned as facilitating the trade, with reports of migrants being smuggled aboard Kenya Prison Service and parastatal vehicles.
On July 19, a police officer based in Garissa was arraigned for facilitating the irregular entry of undocumented migrants into the country using a government vehicle. The officer was also charged with unlawful use of a vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Interior.
Reports of police and government vehicles being used to smuggle migrants into the country are not new, with 80 foreigners of Ethiopian origin being arrested in Laare Town near Maua in Meru County in August 2015. The issue highlights the need for coordinated efforts to stem the flow of migrants and the illegal business of migrant smuggling and trafficking.
