Security Agencies in Combating Human Trafficking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Abstract

Human trafficking as a global challenge involves the exploitation of individuals to provide forced labor as well as commercial sexual activities. Despite the numerous studies done, policies, and legislation enacted on human trafficking, the vice continues to flourish in Kenya, placing it at tier 2 in the world trafficking index as a country of origin and final destination of targets of human trafficking and smuggled migrants. Concented efforts to fight human trafficking were traditionally a duty of the Department of Immigration, National Police Service (NPS), National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kenya Airports Authority Security Department Officers, Customs and Border Control Officers, Airline Check-in and Documents Security Officers, as well as Port Health Department. However, in December 2021, the combined expertise of two programs; the Better Migration Management (BMM) and the Airport Communication Project (ARCOP) formed a specialized inter-agency for an integrated approach. This study therefore aimed at investigating the challenges in security agencies combating human trafficking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Specifically, the study aimed to highlight the measures taken to combat human trafficking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, determine the level of awareness by the border security agencies, and interrogate the challenges in combating human trafficking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The study adopted a mixed research design combining an explanatory research design with a descriptive survey. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire that was composed of both open and close-ended questions from a sample of 231 respondents from security agencies operating at JKIA. Data was then analyzed using SPSS and presented in tables and graphs. The study findings indicated that the government and security agencies had implemented varied progressive measures to combat human trafficking in JKIA and the Kenyan border. Also, these agencies carried out awareness to the general public on human trafficking and stayed ready to combat the vice. Furthermore, the ix findings indicated various challenges including insufficient funds, a knowledge gap in the use of technology, and a lack of enough capacity to execute their duties comfortably, and thus more needs to be done to win the war against human trafficking. The study recommended continued capacity building for both security agencies and the government which are in line with current trafficking trends and use of technology in the war. In addition, more funding is to be allocated to the agencies and government policy formulators to be proactive and progressive in aligning polices with established measures. Academically, more research needs to be done to underscore the existing gap in the fight against human trafficking based on the fact that findings have acknowledged cost effective and efficiency of the measures yet the vice still flourishes.