US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. PHOTO/@SecRubio/X
Kenya’s efforts to combat human trafficking have come under fresh scrutiny following a United States report linking the fraudulent recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for Russia with concerns over recruitment agencies and alleged official complicity.
The 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, released by the US Department of State, raised concerns about the recruitment of Kenyan nationals for the Russia-Ukraine war, a decline in human trafficking convictions and persistent weaknesses in victim protection.
The report said Kenyan officials had reported alleged collusion between some Kenyan officials, recruitment agencies and Russian government officials in facilitating the recruitment of men who were reportedly promised civilian jobs before being enlisted in Russia’s military.
Despite the concerns, Kenya retained its Tier 2 ranking, indicating that although the government does not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, it is making significant efforts to address the problem.
The report acknowledged improvements in identifying trafficking victims, providing assistance and repatriating Kenyans exploited in overseas forced-labour operations. However, it said enforcement challenges, corruption concerns and gaps in survivor support remained significant obstacles.
Russia Recruitment Raises Trafficking Concerns
The report said Kenyan men were recruited through promises of well-paying security and construction jobs before being coerced into signing contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence.
It cited reports of alleged cooperation between recruitment agencies and officials in facilitating the recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
“Officials reported some Kenyan officials colluded with recruitment agencies and government officials from Russia to facilitate the fraudulent recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for the Russian military in the Russia-Ukraine war,” the report stated.
The document did not provide a detailed breakdown of the officials allegedly involved or establish the outcome of investigations into the reported recruitment network.
The report also raised concerns about the recruitment of African women, including Kenyans aged between 18 and 22, who were reportedly promised vocational training before being placed in Russian military drone production facilities.
According to information cited from media reports and non-governmental organisations, some workers at the facilities experienced hazardous working conditions, surveillance, wage violations, excessive working hours and changes to their employment contracts.
The report also highlighted recruitment fees paid by workers, identifying these practices as potential indicators of human trafficking and labour exploitation.
The findings have brought international recruitment practices into focus, particularly the risks faced by Kenyans seeking employment abroad through agencies that may use deceptive job offers.
Human Trafficking Convictions Drop Sharply
The US report documented a significant decline in human trafficking convictions in Kenya during 2025.
Authorities investigated 43 trafficking cases during the year, compared with 42 in 2024. However, the number of cases prosecuted fell from 44 to 14, while convictions under the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2010 declined from 21 to six.
Of those convicted in 2025, five were found guilty of sex trafficking and one of forced labour.
Two sex traffickers received prison sentences of 30 years, while three others were sentenced to 20 years. The person convicted of labour trafficking received a 10-year prison sentence.
“The government decreased anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts,” the report stated.
It further identified corruption and alleged official complicity as significant concerns affecting the enforcement of anti-trafficking laws.
The government reportedly investigated three Ministry of Labour officials over allegations that they accepted bribes to facilitate potential trafficking crimes involving migrant workers travelling to the Middle East.
The report also raised concerns about recruitment agencies allegedly owned by government employees and suspected of involvement in trafficking offences.
According to the assessment, authorities had not reported action against some of the agencies implicated in such allegations. In certain cases, lesser offences, including failure to register recruitment companies, were reportedly pursued instead of more serious trafficking charges.
The findings raise questions about accountability within recruitment systems and the effectiveness of investigations into suspected trafficking networks.
Kenya Identifies More Trafficking Victims
Despite the decline in prosecutions and convictions, the report recorded improvements in identifying victims and providing assistance.
Authorities identified 271 trafficking victims during the reporting period, up from 195 in the previous period. The victims included 260 people subjected to forced labour and 11 subjected to sex trafficking.
The government also identified 1,021 potential victims and referred 44 victims to support services, compared with no referrals reported in the previous year.
Through partnerships with non-governmental organisations, authorities provided services to 483 victims, an increase from 321 in the preceding reporting period.
Kenya also supported the voluntary repatriation of hundreds of citizens who had been exploited abroad, particularly in online scam operations across Southeast Asia.
These operations have emerged as a concern for Kenyan authorities because victims may be recruited through seemingly legitimate overseas employment opportunities before being subjected to forced labour.
However, the report said access to protection services remained inadequate, particularly for adult victims.
Shelter options for adult men were especially limited. Some were referred to homeless shelters, while others were reportedly left without accommodation.
Plans to expand the government’s dedicated trafficking shelter to accommodate up to 60 victims were delayed by funding shortages.
The report also indicated that the government allocated KSh9.27 million from the National Assistance Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking for direct care and assistance, down from KSh20 million in the previous year.
Legal Reforms Face Continued Delays
The report highlighted delays in proposed amendments to the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2010.
The proposed changes seek to remove the option of imposing a fine instead of imprisonment for sex trafficking offences.
Under the law as described in the report, penalties include imprisonment ranging from 30 years to life, a fine of at least KSh30 million, or both.
However, the US assessment argued that allowing a fine as an alternative to imprisonment for sex trafficking meant the penalties were not commensurate with those imposed for other serious crimes, including rape.
The proposed amendment remained unapproved for the fifth consecutive reporting period, according to the report.
The delay highlights continuing challenges in strengthening Kenya’s legal framework and ensuring that penalties for trafficking offences reflect the severity of the crimes.
Why Kenya Retained Tier 2 Status
Kenya retained its Tier 2 ranking in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report despite the concerns over prosecutions, alleged official complicity and victim protection.
The classification means the government has not fully met the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.
The assessment recognised improvements in victim identification, assistance and the repatriation of Kenyans exploited abroad.
However, the ranking does not mean that Kenya has met all the required standards, nor does it establish that the reported recruitment of Kenyans to fight for Russia alone determined the country’s classification.
The findings present a mixed picture of Kenya’s anti-trafficking efforts: more victims are being identified and assisted, but the decline in convictions, reported corruption and gaps in survivor protection remain serious challenges.
The report places renewed attention on the need for effective investigations, accountability for suspected offenders and stronger safeguards for Kenyans seeking employment overseas.
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