Number of people in modern slavery in Kenya rising alarmingly

Sexual exploitation; forced labour, religious radicalisation and displacements due to conflicts, has pushed hundreds of thousands of people into modern slavery, religious leaders have revealed calling for urgent intervention.
Referring to the current Global Slavery Index (GSI) which conservatively counted up to 188, 000 people who are trapped in some of modern day slavery, the religious leaders fear that this number could be higher.
“It could even three to four times higher than the stated number,” the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) indicated while signing a declaration to end modern slavery.
The religious are asking questions. They want to know why this is happening.
“One would like to ask why is that so? Is it because of religion, so radicalisation? why are they living under slavery…Is it because of sexual exploitation, or is it because of child labour?” These are some of their concerns as the religious leaders drawn from five key inter-faiths appended their signatures to use their platforms to end this vice.
The current Global Estimates do not cover all forms of modern slavery, they said as it also emerged that 14 million people mainly young people ripe for the labour market, are trapped in debts and loans and referred to the national credit bureau for financial punishment.
“This is already worrying,” IRCK Chair Rev. Fr. Joseph Mutie said at a hotel in Karen yesterday where they addressed journalists after committing to work collaboratively as religious leaders to end the vice.
In the current GSI report for example, organ trafficking, child soldiers, or child marriage that could also constitute forced marriage are not able to be adequately measured at this time.
The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya General Secretary, Nelson Makanda said Kenya especially Nairobi is a major transit for girls and boys; either being exploited for forced sex and labour, or taken abroad for the same, and even terrorism.
“It is not normal to find young Karamoja girls in their tender ages being taken out of schools and being holed up in some Nairobi estates for sexual exploitation when they are supposed to be studying,” he said calling for government intervention, also through the help of churches and mosques to arrest the situation.
Makanga expressed concern that as the country is about to go into elections, displacement of people in several parts of the country is starting to happen.
“Baringo, Kerio Valley, Marsabit, and Lamu among other places. Where are these people being taken to?” he posed observing that when they find themselves as internally displaced persons, the risk of getting themselves into slavery is very high.
“This is because their livelihoods, and homes have been destroyed and so being lured into activities by people who want to engage them in slavery is extremely easy,” he said.
Makanga noted that perhaps the signing of the document opens up the religious leaders’ eyes to begin to engage together so that they begin to close the opportunities for modern day slavery.
“For me around these elections, it is possible that people who would be trapped into modern slavery, are those that are displaced and even the young people being recruited into hooligan groups for political reasons is easy and it is a form of slavery because they are unwilling but because they find themselves in vulnerable situations, they have few options,” he added.
The meeting brought together key leaders from the Hindu Council of Kenya; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) and the Seventh Day Adventist among others.
Global Freedom Network (GFN), the faith arm of international human rights group Walk Free – dedicated to accelerating the end of modern slavery – hosted the declaration signing.
Franca Pellegrini, GFN director, said faith leaders were in a unique position to see into the hearts of their communities.
“Faith leaders occupy a prominent position and are well placed to lead the fight against modern slavery in their communities”, said Pellegrini calling on the the philosophy of Global Freedom Network to built on interfaith collaboration.
“The Global Freedom Network believes passionately that in the interconnected, divisive and unequal world we live in, faith leaders can play a crucial role in supporting governments and societies navigate the most complex problems that the 21st century throws at us,” she added.
Yesterday’s event is the ninth signing since 2014, when Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Taqi al-Modarresi joined other faith leaders from many of the world’s great religions in declaring that modern slavery must be eradicated.
The commitment by leaders representing various faith or ganisations to the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery represents a pan-African coalition of ethical leaders to fight an injustice which affects more than 40 million people globally.
IRCK is a coalition of all major faith communities in Kenya that works together to deepen inter-faith dialogue and collaboration among members for a common endeavour to mobilise the unique moral and social resources of religious people and address shared concerns.
Kenya became the second signing venue in Africa after faith leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire joined Ghanaian leaders to sign the commitment in a ceremony held in Accra in August 2021.

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