Police officers from the Kenya Police Service has nab two men linked to human trafficking attempts at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

In a statement by the Kenya Police Service on X on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the police confirmed that the two persons of interest were nabbed in separate accounts while they were enroute United Kingdom and Amsterdam.

“Vigilant officers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have foiled two major immigration fraud and human trafficking attempts,” Police said.

In the first incident Police confirmed that the person of interest was found with a forged Bosnia and Herzegovina visa.

“In the first incident, Iman Dib was arrested while en route to Amsterdam after being found with a forged Bosnia and Herzegovina visa. His facilitator, Samira Dib, was also arrested and will face charges related to human trafficking,”Police added.

In the second incident, the officers identified the person as a Sudanese national who was found in possession of a forged UK residence permit.

“In a separate operation, officers arrested Ahmed Eltayeb, a Sudanese national traveling to the UK, who was found in possession of a forged UK residence permit. His Kenyan facilitator, Abdullahi Ali, was arrested alongside him,’ Police noted.

Reports on human trafficking

Human trafficking remains one of the world’s most pressing human rights issues, affecting millions of vulnerable people across borders.

Each year, the United States Department of State releases its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, ranking governments based on their efforts to combat forced labour, sex trafficking, and modern-day slavery.

In the 2025 edition of the report, Brazil and South Africa were downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List, signalling concerns about declining efforts. Kenya, however, retained its Tier 2 status, a ranking that reflects progress but also highlights persistent gaps that must be urgently addressed.

Here is the hierarchy for clarity:

Tier 1: Highest, countries fully meet minimum standards.

Tier 2: Countries not fully meeting standards but making significant efforts.

Tier 2 Watch List: A step below Tier 2; countries are making efforts but have serious gaps, or their situation may be worsening.

Tier 3: Lowest, countries not meeting standards and not making significant efforts.

What Tier 2 means for Kenya

As earlier explained, Tier 2 countries are those that do not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but are making significant efforts to comply. For Kenya, this means that while progress has been acknowledged, systemic weaknesses still leave thousands of victims unprotected. The report commended Kenya for:

• Increasing investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of traffickers
• Identifying and referring more potential victims for assistance.
• Opening its first state-run shelter for trafficking survivors.
• Engaging Kenyan returnees from the Gulf to shape anti-trafficking policies.

However, it also highlighted critical shortcomings. Despite notable steps forward, the TIP Report flagged several persistent issues:

• Weak victim protection: Services remain scarce, especially for adults and victims outside major towns. Many survivors face retraumatisation due to inadequate support systems.
• Migrant worker vulnerabilities: Fraudulent labour recruitment agencies continue to operate, exposing Kenyans, especially domestic workers in Gulf countries, to abuse, withheld wages, and confiscated passports.
• Complicit officials: Claims persist that some government officers collude with traffickers by issuing fraudulent documents or extorting victims seeking help.
• Legal loopholes: Current laws allow fines instead of mandatory jail terms for sex trafficking offences, undermining deterrence. Reforms to close this loophole have stalled for years.