In 2025, Kenya continued to sit at the center of multiple human trafficking routes, operating both within the country and across its borders. Trafficking networks recruit, move, and exploit people through Kenya, making the country a source, transit point, and destination for human trafficking.

While trafficking in Kenya takes many forms, officials increasingly point to forced criminality and conflict-related recruitment as among the most urgent and fast-growing threats. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) links the persistence of these crimes to youth unemployment, fragile regional governance, and gaps in law enforcement and border management.

Forced criminality expands beyond traditional exploitation

Throughout the year, transnational trafficking and smuggling syndicates remained active, exploiting economic vulnerability and  weak enforcement. Authorities say the scale and diversity of trafficking now pose a growing threat to both human rights and national security.

Additionally, trafficking in Kenya has expanded beyond forced criminality in forced labor and sexual exploitation. Officials report rising cases linked to online scamming, illegal cryptocurrency trading, money laundering, modern slavery, and human organ harvesting.

Traffickers also exploit the movement of refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants to maintain their operations. Victims include Kenyans as well as people from across East and Central Africa, highlighting Kenya’s role as a regional trafficking hub.

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