How Kenyan women are trafficked to Europe
There was a compelling global resolution to terminate international sex trafficking by the European regulation consensus in 1899.
A congress was held in London, the UK, in the hope of attaining a comprehensive pact to eliminate sex trafficking. It was followed by conferences in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1901, London once more in 1902, and Paris, France, in 1904.
In 1919, after the end of the monolithic World War I, the newly formed League of Nations appointed an official body to gather facts pertaining to the trafficking of women. Subsequently, in 1921, at a conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, that was attended by representatives from 34 countries, it formed the committee combating the Trafficking of Women and Children.
According to Human Trafficking in Eastern Africa by the International Organisation for Migration, the UN adopted and reinforced the work of the Geneva committee in 1946 after the end of World War II. Three years later on December 2, 1949, the Convention for Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and Exploitation of Commercial Sex Workers was ratified by 72 nations, including Kenya.
Despite being a signatory to this convention, the abhorrent escalation of sex trafficking has resulted in Kenya becoming a principal source, transit and destination for women being trafficked for sexual exploitation. In 2003, efforts to eliminate Kenya’s sex trafficking had regressed so corrosively. Kenya was placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, because of its lack of evidence in combating human trafficking.
The ineptitude of law enforcement and incompetence of authorities have predominantly impeded the proficiency of the government’s ability to effectively confront and dismantle the trafficking of women. Trafficking of women from Kenya to Europe is expertly organised.
Traffickers recruit women from impoverished remote areas and urban centres that provide an unending conveyor belt of victims. They approach their potential recruits calculatedly with convincing charm and a flush of seductive elements of manipulation.
Preying on each victim’s desperation, naivety, and articulating definitive answers to their inquisitions, while building trust. They emphatically promise their victims lucrative jobs overseas, while feeding them with a steady diet of misinformation and fallacy. The affiliates of the syndicates subsequently make all travel arrangements for the women, with the understanding that they will be reimbursed once the victims begin working.
They discreetly forge travel documents for the victims and the majority of them end up in Germany, which accounts for 48 per cent of trafficked persons in Europe and the UK, which accounts for 32 per cent. Ironically, repressive government bureaucrats are always in cahoots with traffickers, helping to accelerate the supply of false documentation at a fee as they validate the immorality of the traffickers.
While in Europe, the victims are averted to European traffickers, who in compensation, pay Kenyan traffickers three times the total costs of travel expenses. The European traffickers then disburse the victims to bars and nightclubs.
At this juncture, European bar and club owners pay European agents 12 times the amount the agents have paid to Kenyan traffickers. The bar and club owners furthermore multiply the amount they paid to the European agents by 1.5 when calculating the total amount of debt each victim has to reimburse them.
It is the victim, who, therefore, bears the inflated liability of the entire transaction, which amounts to 54 times the total cost of the travel arrangements paid by the Kenyan traffickers. In addition to the enormous debt, the victims are exploited within the complex human trafficking network.
There is no regulatory legal framework through which to pay the incurred debt. Therefore, travel documentation is withheld by the nightclubs and bars as collateral, until the debt is paid.
This often takes years and in some cases over a decade, an embodiment of modern-day slavery. Most trafficked Kenyan women enter Germany and the UK through Eastern European countries, including Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Moldova and Croatia, under forged student visas. The European agents then arrange to transfer them to their final destinations.
The victims are essentially provided with forged travel documentation, facilitated by the European agents. At this stage, the trafficked women enter Germany or the UK on short-stay, transit or tourist visas, as they are the simplest type of visas to obtain from Eastern European nations. The visa doesn’t authorise the holder to engage in income-generating activities while in Germany and Britain.
This implies that the victims are under entrapment and will be unable to access decent legal occupation if they escape from captivity. They work in the clubs and bars and thus enjoy no legal protection. Consequently, they tolerate more mistreatment and sexual abuse while persevering with dire working conditions, for fear of arrest, if exposed by law enforcers.
The victims are both physically and psychologically subjected to a severe tyranny of abuse. The bar and club owners exploit their vulnerability and make excessive profits. They are forced into prostitution and offer sexual services to nightclubs and bar clients while receiving no pay. They are only provided with food and a place to stay and in several establishments, these daily meals and accommodation liabilities are accrued onto their debt.
The writer is a novelist, Big Brother Africa 2 Kenyan representative and founder of Jeff’s Fitness Centre (@jeffbigbrother).
Shows
See AllAM Live
AM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
Comedies
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Documentaries
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Entertainment
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Full Episodes
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
One Health Lens Podcast
Discussing health matters and human stories from Kenya and across Africa. We talk big picture from people to policy, ecosystems, and everything in between. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onehealthlens
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Primetime
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Speaking of GEN Z
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport On
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Tech-over
The extent of technological growth is beyond mere acknowledgment; it has seamlessly integrated into our daily existence. A few years ago, the notion of paying electricity bills through mobile money or recharging with 'tokens' in Kenya seemed inconceivable. Online product sales were considered distant, and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping various facets of our lives. Amidst these technological leaps, those with a solid understanding of tech can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a sustainable livelihood. Tech over Show aims to be the platform facilitating discussions among thought leaders, innovators, tech companies, and the government, addressing challenges and opportunities in Kenya's thriving tech industry.
Thamani
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
The Politalk podcast
This is The Politalk podcast. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
The Trend
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Trending
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
Unscripted
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP Access
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
WADR
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
When death do us part
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.