In recent years, media attention on human trafficking in persons in the coastal region of Kenya has been increasing but there is limited up-to-date inforrnatin on the current situation. To fill this gap, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted an assessment in three target counties in the region, namely, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. The objectives were as follows:
- Generate information on the current trafficking situation in the coastal region of Kenya;
- Identify the groups most vulnerable human trafficking prevalent forms of trafficking and source area of Victims of trafficking (VOTs) along with their destinations;
- Inform key stakeholders, thus contributing to strengthened identification and referral mechanisms for VOTs and vulnerable migrants in Kenya.
In order to achieve these objectives, the research team, which consisted of IOM Kenya experts employed mixed methods, as follows:
- Literature review focussing on reports, newsletter and other publications from agencies working on the issue.
- Four (4) stakeholder workshops it the three target countries with 98 participants representing national and country government as well as non-governmental and community-based organizations (NGOs and CBOs) engaged in counter trafficking in the region;
- Seventy-eight (78) key informant interviews from workshop participants; and
- Case studies of VOTs, to gain a more nuanced understanding of the varying circumstances they face.
