Child Trafficking and Unsafe Migration Between Kenya and Ethiopia Report

Child exploitation, particularly child trafficking, and unsafe migration remains a pressing issue within the pastoralist communities of Marsabit County in Northern Kenya. Moyale, a border town, is particularly susceptible to child trafficking and migration. Strong cultural inclinations catalyse incidents of child trafficking and the overall promotion of harmful cultural practices and cross-border child rights violations.

Marsabit County is affected by both internal and cross-border child trafficking. Internal trafficking occurs when children are relocated from Marsabit to other parts of the county or vice versa. On the other hand, cross-border trafficking occurs when children are illegally relocated from or to Kenya. In Moyale, the study established that 91% of the child trafficking cases are cross-border related. Currently, 100% of the known cases are of victims of Ethiopian origin. The most common trafficking routes are through the informal borders of Ethiopia and Kenya.

The research study on Child Trafficking and Unsafe Migration between Kenya and Ethiopia aimed to establish the trends of child trafficking and unsafe migration in Marsabit County,  Moyale Sub County, including determining the specific child trafficking risks, drivers and enablers. 

The study delved deeper into the specifics of child trafficking in Marsabit County capturing the context, push and pull factors that contribute to this phenomenon, pathways to child trafficking, demographics of children/youth, forms of exploitation related to child trafficking, common perpetrators, recruitment patterns, source, routes and destination, age, sex/gender, socio-economic background of both child victims as well as the perpetrators.

Forms of exploitation:

The Child Trafficking and Unsafe Migration between Kenya and Ethiopia report highlights child trafficking victims as those who endure multiple forms of exploitation, with labour exploitation being the predominant form affecting 64% of these vulnerable children. Organ trafficking follows closely behind at 46%, marking a perilous practice. Begging, slavery/servitude, and forced marriage collectively constitute the third most prevalent form of exploitation at 41%. Sexual exploitation affects 34% of the victims, posing a severe risk to their physical and psychological well-being. Lastly, forced military recruitment, though less common at 11%, remains a deeply concerning practice.

Leading Causes of Child Trafficking

The cross-cutting leading cause of child trafficking and unsafe migration was economic deprivation and related challenges. Lack of livelihood opportunities,

contributing to limited prospects, was highlighted as the primary cause, especially in the arid region of Marsabit. Marsabit County is affected by both internal and cross-border child trafficking. Internal trafficking occurs when children are relocated from Marsabit to other parts of the county or vice versa. On the other hand, cross-border trafficking occurs when children are illegally relocated from or to Kenya. In Moyale, the study established that 91% of the child trafficking cases are cross-border related. 

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to child trafficking and unsafe migration, including sexual exploitation of children

Of the surveyed respondents who admitted that they had ever encountered information or news related to child trafficking in their local community or region, a significant proportion of them reacted to the news in shock and disbelief. These emotional reactions highlight the profound impact that child trafficking has on individuals and communities, emphasising the urgent need for effective prevention, protection, and rehabilitation measures to eradicate this scourge from society.

Characteristics of  the victims:

In terms of the common characteristics of victims of child trafficking in Moyale, a majority of the surveyed respondents noted that females (54%) were victimized more than males (46%). Additionally, children aged below 12 years (53%) were more vulnerable compared to those aged 13 – 18 years (47%). Interestingly, children with both parents (35%) had a slightly higher victimization rate compared to those of a single parent (33%) or orphaned (32%).

Perpetrators of Child Trafficking 

The Perpetrators were likely to be neighbours (37%) and known to the victim, while a smaller percentage were unrelated (18%).

Capacity of Community-based Child Protection Systems in combating child trafficking and Unsafe Migration in Marsabit

The study revealed that some children and parents/caregivers lack the capacity to protect themselves and their children against child trafficking and unsafe migration. From the diverse perspectives regarding the capacity of local administrative leaders, such as chiefs, were diverse among surveyed parents/caregivers and children there is need for continued evaluation and support to enhance the capabilities of local administrative leaders, ensuring effective measures to protect children from trafficking and unsafe migration.

Recent Cases of Child Trafficking 

The study found that almost half (49%) of the victims were from Moyale. These victims were mostly migrated to Ethiopia (30%), Nairobi (25%), and within Moyale (15%). The diverse regional and ethnic backgrounds of child trafficking victims were highlighted, emphasising the cross-border and multi-ethnic nature of this issue in the region. 

Challenges in Combating Child Trafficking 

A majority (87%) of the surveyed parents and caregivers reported never participating in any community programs or initiatives aimed at preventing child trafficking. This lack of community engagement underscores the need for increased involvement in prevention efforts.