Socio-cultural Factors Hindering the Eradication of Human Trafficking in Kenya

Abstract

Human trafficking is a matter of global concern, evidenced by the numerous initiatives such as the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. Despite the measures adopted at the global, regional and local arena, this Transnational Organized Crime continues to thrives in different parts of the world and countries have been identified as either source, transit or destination, attributed to the concealed nature of the vice. The main objective of this study was to establish the socio-cultural factors that hinder the eradication of human trafficking in Kenya with a view of promoting the protection and empowerment of potential migrants. This was a qualitative study which employed a descriptive design. Key informants were identified from a list of stakeholders involved in counter trafficking of persons in the country. The participants recruited for the study were 10 (6 males and 4 females) government and non-governmental official from Nairobi and Mombasa Counties. Primary data was collected using a semi-structured pre-tested key informant interview guide, containing both closed and open-ended questions. Basic content analysis was used to organize the data with the aid of NVivo software version 11 guided by a pre-agreed coding framework. The study participants strongly agreed that social and cultural factors play a significant role in making certain individuals vulnerable to human trafficking. Although it was clear that anybody is a potential victim, the youth, women and girls, Islamic faithful’s, refugees, and individuals from marginalized and border communities were mentioned, as some of the most vulnerable sub-populations. The pertinent socio-cultural factors, with a synergistic effect, hindering the eradication of human trafficking alluded to by the respondents can be summarized into five themes: i) Social inequalities, ii) Social impunity iii) Community practices and socio-cultural norms iv) complacency driven by religion beliefs and trust v) Gender and power dynamics. Based on the study findings, it is imperative that the government adopts an inclusive approach in the review of existing counter trafficking in persons’ policies to accommodate the uniqueness of our social environment and cultural settings.