A Mombasa tout has received plaudits for saving a teenage girl from human trafficking.
The Germany Embassy in Kenya lauded the conductor for intervening and rescuing the distressed victim, a rare act of humanity that has touched many hearts. The embassy cited an article published on the European Commission website.
According to the publication, the tout identified as Rashid (not his real name), spotted the minor stranded at a Mombasa bus stop, all alone.
After dropping and picking up passengers along its routes, the matatu made a stop at the terminus only for the tout to find the girl rooted at the same spot. He approached her, enquiring whether she needed help.
The minor explained that a stranger asked her to travel to Mombasa with the promise of securing her a job.
However, the said individual never showed up. Rashid, the conductor, was worried since it was almost nightfall and was aware of young girls being lured into human trafficking with false job promises in the coastal city.
"Rashid assumed the ‘job offer’ was part of a human trafficking scheme being used to exploit the girl.
Alarmed by the situation, he called Trace Kenya, an organisation active in combating human trafficking and assisting victims.
Following Rashid's heroic act, the European Union and the Germany Embassy announced that they will fund two Non-Governmental Organisations in Mombasa to sensitize the community on human trafficking.
"The campaign has been a success and is therefore going to be expanded. As a next step, Trace Kenya and Candle of Hope Foundation will broadcast radio spots on the buses in Swahili and other local languages such as Somali and Giriama," EU stated.
Meanwhile, all duty bearers were urged by Chief Justice Martha Koome to take immediate and significant action in order to combat the growing problem of human trafficking in Kenya.
Speaking on Friday, July 8, 2022, at the official launch of the Kenya Judicial Bench Book on labour trafficking in persons, the Chief Justice (CJ) noted that the majority of those targetted are women and children.
Koome underlined that the book will be instrumental in enhancing the efficiency of the justice sector in preventing human trafficking.
The book would also help to secure social justice by igniting the struggle against the abuse connected to human trafficking.
