The government has sought the aid of a renowned United States firm in a concerted effort to battle the rising cases of human trafficking.
On Monday, May 12, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) officially entered into a partnership with the United States-based Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) in a landmark moment.
The ODPP revealed in a statement that Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HTI Chief Executive Officer Victor Boutros to boost the country's prosecutorial response to human trafficking offences.
According to ODPP, the partnership is set to inject fresh momentum into the implementation of Kenya’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act No. 8 of 2010.
Thanks to the MoU, the HTI will work closely with ODPP to equip prosecutors with modern tools and training, which will give them an edge over human traffickers. This will include specialised capacity building, technical support and strategic advice for trafficking-related investigations.
While welcoming the collaboration, DPP Ingonga termed it a significant step in strengthening inter-agency efforts to bring human traffickers to book.
"This agreement will enhance our capacity to not only prosecute trafficking cases more effectively but also ensure justice is accessible for all affected persons," he said.
Dig Deeper: Founded in 2015, the HTI was formed by former federal prosecutors Victor Boutros and John Cotton Richmond mainly to equip law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools, training, and expertise needed to effectively investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases.
Notably, the organisation has implemented its model in several African countries, including Uganda and South Africa, with Kenya set to be another beneficiary of the organisation's expertise.
In Kenya, one of the biggest challenges facing human trafficking cases has been a lack of specialised training in collecting survivor-centred evidence and building strong cases.
As recently as April 16, the ODPP was on the spot after human rights advocates urged the government to up its game and rescue distressed Kenyans facing abuse, forced labour, and human trafficking across the globe.
Reflecting on the increased rates of human trafficking, the group stressed that the government should take immediate action and reinforce anti-trafficking laws and policies, in addition to creating a special task force to investigate how human trafficking is conducted.
