A desperate search for a better life is turning into a nightmare of abuse, exploitation, and even death for a growing number of Kenyans, the nation’s human rights watchdog has warned. In a joint statement with regional counterparts, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) raised the alarm over a spike in human rights violations along the perilous Southern migration route that stretches across the continent.

The alert, issued on International Migrants Day, underscores a grim reality for many Kenyan families: the very journeys undertaken to put food on the table are leading to immense suffering. Driven by a toxic mix of conflict, climate change, and scarce economic opportunities at home, many are forced onto dangerous, irregular paths where they become easy prey for traffickers.

The Southern Route: A Corridor of Risk

Kenya has long been a major hub—a source, transit point, and destination for people on the move. The Southern corridor, a key artery for migrants heading towards Southern Africa, is fraught with danger. "Migrants moving across borders through irregular routes are exposed to significant protection challenges, including the risk of human rights abuses," the KNCHR and its counterparts from Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Zambia noted in their joint declaration.

The lines are increasingly blurred between asylum seekers, smuggled migrants, and victims of trafficking, creating a complex crisis. Survivor testimonies paint a harrowing picture of the journey:

• **Deception and Debt:** Many are lured by fraudulent recruiters with false promises of lucrative jobs, only to find themselves trapped in debt bondage. Victims have reported paying deposits averaging $1,500 (approx. KES 194,000) to trafficking syndicates.
• **Brutal Conditions:** Exploitation is rampant, with survivors reporting sexual harassment, physical abuse, denial of medical care, and slave-like working conditions with little to no pay.
• **Psychological Trauma:** The emotional and psychological toll is immense, leading to long-term trauma for survivors and immense distress for their families back home.

A National Crisis with a Human Face

While the government has increased efforts to combat this scourge, significant gaps remain. The latest U.S. State Department report on trafficking places Kenya on its 'Tier 2' watch list, indicating that while efforts are being made, minimum standards for elimination are not fully met. In the last year, authorities identified 201 trafficking victims and prosecuted 19 cases, convicting at least three traffickers.

However, critics point to a lack of adequate protection services, especially for adults, and persistent concerns over official complicity hindering law enforcement. For families, the economic impact is devastating. Trafficking erodes household wealth, cuts off vital remittance flows that many communities depend on, and saddles families with the financial and emotional burden of rescuing and rehabilitating their loved ones.

The story of Sophie Otiende, a Kenyan survivor advocate, is a stark reminder of the personal cost. Trafficked by her own uncle at just 13 under the false promise of schooling, she endured months of domestic servitude and abuse. "Most survivors rarely even get to know that what they went through is trafficking," Otiende has stated, highlighting the deep-seated nature of the problem.

The crisis is not limited to one route. Recent reports show an alarming new trend of young, educated Kenyan men being trafficked to Southeast Asia and forced into cybercrime, while others have been tricked into fighting in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

As human rights bodies call for a rights-based approach to migration and the expansion of safe, legal pathways, the plea from survivors is clear. It is a call for a system that protects the dignity and lives of Kenyans, ensuring that the search for opportunity does not end in tragedy.