Karimojong girls intercepted in Kenya

Nov 25, 2020

The girls, aged between 14 and 17, hailed from Napak, Kotido and Kaabong districts. One of the boys said he was from Rakai district.

POLICE|HUMAN TRAFFICKING|GIRLS

A group of Ugandan girls, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, were intercepted by the Kenya police on their way to Nairobi.

According to sources in the Criminal Intelligence department at Busia Central Police Station, the group, including 28 girls and two boys, was found aboard Crown Bus Services Limited and Elimax Services enroute to Nairobi last week.

The girls, aged between 14 and 17, hailed from Napak, Kotido, and Kaabong districts. One of the boys said he was from Rakai district.

Travelling back to work

Upon interrogation, the group told Police that they were previously working in Nairobi and had returned home before the COVID-19 lockdown, but were going back to their previous workplaces.

According to criminal intelligence, the suspected victims of human trafficking boarded buses from Busia, where they lived with their parents. Some of them had Local Council identity cards.

Being minors, they did not have national identity cards.

CID speaks out on the matter 

Charles Twine, the Criminal Investigations Directorate spokesperson, said Police in Busia have been trying to get statements from the victims, but they refused to open up.

"They refused to tell us who was taking them to Kenya. However, some of them have been picked by their parents. For those who are still around, we shall try to get in touch with Karimajong leaders to trace their families," Twine said.

Taking action 

"Since this happened out of our country, we cannot charge these girls, but if we get interest in the matter, we can ask the bus companies to record statements and find out whether they were accomplices in trafficking or were transporting this group unknowingly," he noted.

Twine further said if they find it necessary to have the statements retrieved from Kenya, they will make arrangements with the East African Police Chiefs Organisation (EAPCO) and Interpol to do it.

He explained that the biggest number of trafficking in persons is locally done. Young girls and boys are being lured with promises of job opportunities, but they end up being exploited sexually and it is becoming worse for girls.

He warned people involved in sexual exploitation, saying that just like any other capital offence, perpetrators will serve a mandatory remand period of six months, adding that once found guilty, a person charged with aggravated trafficking in persons may be given a death sentence.

"It has, however, not been implemented since the phenomena is new and no conviction has been made. There are many cases of trafficking in persons pending trial and we are optimistic that once the first conviction is done, it will send a big warning to the culprits, as well as reduce the crime rate in the country," he noted.

Reported cases 

According to the trafficking in person's report 2018, the potential/ suspected victims of trafficking intercepted at exit points in Uganda and Kenya were 477 women compared to men, who were 122.

However, out of the 477 reported cases, there have not been any convictions so far indicated in the report.

It is believed that most cases are not reported due to lack of victim protection.

Support needed 

Twine urged stakeholders or institutions that would want to be part of helping victims to get in touch with the Police.

"Police are overwhelmed with victims, not only human trafficking but also rape, defilement, and child sacrifice. We need partners to support victims' protection," he said.

Smuggling routes 

The trafficking in person's report 2018 indicated that most youths are smuggled through illegal paths within border areas of Lwakhaka, Busia, and Malaba to Kenya.

It is believed that Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, for some time, has been a destination route to the Middle East, Oman, and other countries for illegal job placements.





(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});