EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND URBAN REFUGEES IN NAIROBI
EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND URBAN REFUGEES IN NAIROBI
Korji, C. A. - Scholar, Masters of Arts in Peace Studies and International Relations, Hekima University College, Kenya
Dr. Gaspar Sunhwa, SJ - Lecturer, Hekima University College, Kenya
Dr. Kifle Wansamo, SJ - Lecturer, Hekima University College, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This study aims to study the nature and depth of human trafficking among urban refugees in Nairobi - Kenya with a view of finding the probable sustainable solution to the effective protection of urban refugees. The specific objectives were to examine the relationship between human trafficking and urban refugees in Nairobi, to determine the conditions under which urban refugees opt for human trafficking, to examine the attitudes of urban refugees towards human trafficking, to find out the challenges faced by urban refugees brought by human trafficking, and to propose possible policy guidelines that will better address urban refugee’s protection. The proposed research was a descriptive exploratory study that employed survey research design combining quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. The population of study was the urban refugees living in Nairobi County and governmental and nongovernmental organizations dealing with refugees and/or human trafficking. 100 questionnaires are administered and 12 interview guides. Official figures of refugees in Nairobi were around 502194 refugees. The data collected was keyed in and analyzed with the aid of SPSS software. The study found that the respondents moved to Nairobi to get employment. The study found that most of the respondents obtained their income from own/family business and as well as casual labour. The study found that refugees choose to access employment in Mombasa. The reason was that there are many foreigners and flow of tourist visitors which create the platform to gain jobs in hotels, pubs, furnished apartments, restaurants, tourist sights and other recreational services. The study recommended that there is need for counter-trafficking actors to go beyond returning survivors to their homes or alternative safe places to empowering them or their families to be economically independent, to preparing them to take leadership role in the fight against refugee trafficking and other forms of oppression in the society.
