Child trafficking is the illicit trade in children. It includes theft, abduction, transfer, sale, unlawful induction into military action, using children for cultural or religious practices such as human sacrifice and cultist activities
Following are the forms and purpose of child trafficking in Kenya
• Theft of toddlers and children of tender years
• Abduction of children for early marriages
• Child abduction for human sacrifices
• Children abducted for servitude or child labour
• Abductions for child prostitution
• Abduction for sex tourism.
Causes of child trafficking
• Poverty
Some families cannot take care of their children well and therefore resolve to sell them to the ‘highest bidder’, or offer them for ’employment’.
• Religious and cultural practices
Some call for human or child sacrifices.
• Stigma associated with inability to naturally bear children
People resolve to ‘buy’ stolen children and pretend that they gave birth to them.
• Inadequate awareness on legal adoptions and cost inhibitions
Couples or people who are unaware of legal ways of adopting children may fall prey to such illicit trade. Others who find it expensive to adopt children may opt to ‘buy’ them.
• Decaying social and moral fabric
More and more people prefer having sex with children leading to a rise in incidents of child prostitution.
• Rising number of orphans without alternative care
Child trafficking violates children survival rights, developmental rights and participation rights. These children are not able to attend school, lack basic needs and are denied right to enjoy parental love and protection. They do not access information and they are likely to be subjected to torture and other forms of abuse and exploitation. They lack chances to express themselves, associate with others and don’t have the freedom to practice their religious beliefs and teachings.
