The United States government has raised concerns over the trafficking of Chinese nationals working in Kenya.
In its 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, the US State Department revealed that there were instances of forced labour among Chinese workers.
In particular, Chinese workers undertaking various infrastructure projects were alleged to be experiencing forced labour.
Therefore, through screening, the US noted that the government would identify those who have been trafficked and take action against the perpetrators.
Some of the projects undertaken by the Chinese include the Standard Guage Railway (SGR) and the Nairobi Expressway.
"People’s Republic of China nationals employed in Kenya at worksites affiliated with the PRC’s Belt and Road Initiative were vulnerable to forced labour, particularly in construction," read the statement in part.
On the other hand, the proposal on screening was extended to other foreign nationals and Kenyans who are returning to the country from abroad.
"Systematically and proactively identify trafficking victims by screening vulnerable populations such as refugees, asylum-seekers, individuals in commercial sex, Kenyan migrant workers returning from overseas, and all foreign national workers," read the report in part.
Notably, Kenya is ranked among countries that still have prevalent human trafficking incidents despite recent government efforts to combat the vice.
In particular, the report highlighted child trafficking and sex trafficking as major issues facing the country.
"The government reported prosecuting 19 trafficking cases including an unknown number of suspects three sex trafficking cases, five labour trafficking cases, and 11 cases of unspecified forms of trafficking under various laws in 2023. The government previously reported prosecuting at least 48 suspects in an unknown number of cases in 2022.
"The government reported convicting at least three traffickers in 2023 for forced labour; two traffickers were sentenced to five years in jail, of which one was also fined Ksh30 million (USD 243,210). The third trafficker was acquitted," read the report in part.
Equally, tracking of Kenyans to other countries remains a concern. Specifically, Kenyans deployed to work in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia were still being harassed and mistreated.
