Cases of human trafficking are becoming a thorn in the flesh for the Kenyan government not only involving the locals but also the country is being used to traffic foreigners.
The victims are either lured that they will be connected to jobs in Europe or other countries but end up being mistreated or forced to do odd jobs contrary to what they signed.
But on September 24, 2025 detectives in Nairobi made a breakthrough, the Transnational Organised Crime Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations led an operation at the Greatwall apartments, where 21 Kenyans were found housed awaiting processing to Russia.
During the raid, the officers arrested Edward Kamau Gituku who is suspected of coordinating the processing of the victims to travel for enlistment in the military under the guise of lucrative jobs.
The victims were being kept in apartments not far from the international airport which is now becoming synonymous with human smuggling cases.
The neighbourhood is located along Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, Athi River in Machakos County has become synonymous with cases of human trafficking.
Estates around the trading centre sit at a strategic location, especially due to the area’s proximity to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
To access the apartments one must clear the security by giving the details of the house you are visiting so as to keep out intruders but residents are now wondering how the clandestine business has been happening.
“Some houses here are rented as Airbnb because the owners are not around,” a resident said, adding they raised suspicion after several young men were spotted.
Most houses in the estate are three-bedroom, and the neighbourhood is well served with social amenities, including health facilities, a mall and prestigious schools.
“Most of the people who rent Aarbnb are foreigners who are on short stay. They prefer this place because the airport is not far and there is less traffic compared to other parts of Nairobi,” the resident added.
The 21 victims rescued revealed that they had signed an agreement with an unnamed overseas employment agency binding them to pay between Sh1.6 million and Sh2.3 million for visas, travel, accommodation and logistics.
But those who fail to pay within 35 days are charged a one per cent daily penalty. Some of the victims indicated that they had already paid deposits ranging from Sh50,000 to 100,000 upon being promised a salary of Sh200,000.
Not long ago, police in Athi River arrested 131 Ethiopian nationals for being in the country illegally. The men did not have identification documents and legal entry documents permitting their presence in the country.
On January 2, 2024, authorities nabbed a human trafficker in Lucky Summer and rescued 73 Ethiopians.
A Burundian was deported to his home country via the Busia border, while an Eritrean was sent back to Uganda on May 13 for his involvement in trafficking.
An Ethiopian wanted by his government for trafficking was deported to Ethiopia on April 4. A Ugandan was convicted of trafficking at the Kahawa Law Courts and sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the option of paying a Sh20 million fine.
From the statistics, 38 people were arrested for human trafficking in Nairobi, Marsabit, Kwale, Machakos, and Kajiado counties.
An analysis by Sunday Standard revealed that victims, smuggled primarily to Libya and some to South Africa, were often harboured in Kenya for days or even months before being moved.
One Kenyan was arrested on October 22 for trafficking Kenyans to Myanmar. Myanmar has become a hub for Asian criminal gangs exploiting illegal immigrants for wire fraud.
The victims are forced to work for these gangs, enduring poor living conditions, beatings, and assault. Internal documents seen by Sunday Standard detail the operation of these trafficking.
Most victims are deceived due to their vulnerability, falsely promised jobs in South Africa or Europe.
Smugglers specifically target young people between 15 and 24, with the Dadaab refugee camp being their main recruitment hub. According to the police, traffickers use word of mouth and social media platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok to lure victims.
They promise jobs in Europe to help victims support their families back home. The victims do not realise they are being drawn into a web of deceit and exploitation.
