KENYA: TIP WATCH LIST INTERIM ASSESSMENT

UNCLAS NAIROBI 004841 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KWMN PGOV SMIG KE SUBJECT: KENYA: TIP WATCH LIST INTERIM ASSESSMENT REF: STATE 174958 ¶1. Summary: Kenya has made minimal progress in its efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP),but there are ambitious plans for the near future. Senior GOK officials acknowledge the gravity of the TIP problem in Kenya, and have expressed support for the establishment of a Steering Committee to develop a National Plan of Action and to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts. The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken the lead in organizing and coordinating activities at the district level, but these activities have yet to bear the full hoped-for harvest. End Summary. Recent Arrests, Investigations, or Prosecutions of Traffickers -------------- ¶2. In August, two police officers were suspended from duty over a suspected child trafficking syndicate operating between Kenya and Uganda. However, the officers were reinstated to active duty pending disciplinary action from Police Headquarters, which has yet to be meted out. The officers, based at Endebess Police Station in Trans-Nzoia, were interdicted after they allegedly helped a suspected child trafficker escape from custody. The suspect was subsequently re-arrested on August 27 trying to sneak an allegedly stolen child to Uganda. We are still trying to discover the fate of the alleged trafficker and will follow-up with any such information via septel. Tracking Anti-trafficking Law Enforcement Efforts Throughout the Country -------------- -------------- ¶3. The Kenya Police Service (KPS) has been working on tracking trafficking cases in the coast region, especially in Mombasa, and in the Rift Valley, but there is still no evidence of a comprehensive countrywide coordinated effort. A lack of awareness of human trafficking-related issues among law enforcement officials throughout Kenya continues to severely undermine the KPS's ability to properly identify and track human trafficking cases. Steps to Establish a National TIP Working Group National Plan of Action -------------- --- ¶4. The various ministries and government departments with TIP-related responsibilities expressed strong support for the development of a National TIP Steering Committee. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has funding to support the establishment of the Committee, the National Action Plan, and training for implementation, with the Ministry of Home Affairs taking the lead role for the GOK. IOM has hosted several large stakeholders' meetings, and Government agencies are currently determining which one should convene the initial meeting. Post has, in conjunction with IOM, offered to facilitate the first such meeting, preferably before end of December 2006. Status of the Human Trafficking Unit -------------- ¶5. No further information has been forthcoming about the operational effectiveness of the Human Trafficking Unit (HTU). Minimal efforts have been taken to strengthen its anti-trafficking efforts. Among the items to be addressed at the planned government inter-ministerial meeting is the proposal to make the HTU accountable to the National Steering Committee. Efforts to Enforce the Code of Conduct -------------- ¶6. The Kenya Hotel Owners Association, Coast Branch, recently told Ambassador Ranneberger that the majority of all Coast hotels had signed the ECPAT Code of Conduct against child sex tourism (CST). However, the hotels in Malindi, which is one of the centers for CST, have not yet signed up. It is envisaged that the Code of Conduct will also be presented to hotels in Nairobi as well as hotels in other Kenyan towns. Private beach cottages and villas in Malindi, which have been suspected of conducting underhand businesses, have now been forced to obtain hotel licenses and are subject to examination by government inspectors. Embassy Procedures to Assist Suspected Trafficking Victims -------------- -------------- ¶7. Embassy officials plan to refer any suspected trafficking victims we may become aware of to civil society organizations providing various forms of assistance to trafficking victims. Additionally, we will inform the relevant Kenyan government authorities of the alleged trafficking case and work with them to ensure an investigation is conducted. Forthcoming TIP Legislation and Awareness -------------- ¶8. The Trafficking in Persons Bill drafted by NGOs is now being re-drafted at the Attorney General's Office. Although the Attorney General's office assured a recent meeting of the NGO TIP Network that the Bill would be ready by the end of the year, this seems unlikely given the numerous other crucial bills that are in queue for discussion by Parliament. ¶9. The Kenyan media, especially the government-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, has reported cases of suspected human trafficking. One such recent case involves a female worker who had been held illegally in Saudi Arabia, and who managed to return to the country in October. We plan to support civil society to conduct national and community-level awareness-raising activities through radio, print materials, and community workshops. ¶10. We have attended training sessions for journalists with the aim of increasing both the quantity and quality of local coverage of trafficking-related issues. The results are very encouraging, as there has been a marked improvement in reporting TIP matters. Post continues to cooperate with civil society in advocacy and follow up for the enactment of counter trafficking legislation that was presented to the Attorney General's Chambers in May 2006. Post hopes to continue its support for specialized training targeting police, judiciary, immigration officials, and health workers. Ambassador Hosts Anti-TIP Forum -------------- ¶11. On November 13, 2006, Ambassador Ranneberger hosted a forum for key foreign donors and potential donors who deal with TIP matters to discuss priorities, strategies, and areas for collaboration to advocate for sustained Kenyan government action to combat TIP in Kenya. The Embassy representatives and international organizations agreed to establish a working group to coordinate and focus their efforts with GOK agencies and NGOs. RANNEBERGER