| dc.description.abstract | Human trafficking remains a serious global concern affecting millions of vulnerable individuals, particularly
in regions characterized by high migration flows. Kenya, being situated along major migration routes, faces
challenges associated with trafficking in persons (TiP), which disproportionately affect women and children.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Clinic in Eastleigh, Nairobi County, plays an important
role in addressing this issue through its Voluntary Return and Reintegration (VRR) programs that provide
support for victims’ recovery and social reintegration. Despite the presence of the programs, a majority of the
returnees continue to face challenges associated with economic hardships which increases their vulnerabilities
to re-trafficking. This study seeks to examine the effectiveness of VRR programs implemented by the IOM
Clinic in preventing trafficking in persons in Kenya. The study examines contribution of VRR in combating
trafficking, evaluates the role of socio-economic interventions, analyses challenges faced by returnees and
evaluates effectiveness of VRR programs by the IOM Clinic. The research addresses a key gap in existing
literature, which offers limited empirical evidence on the long-term impact of reintegration programs in
reducing re-trafficking risks and promoting sustainable livelihoods among survivors. The research was guided
by the Theory of Change and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which together explain how VRR programs meet
survivors’ basic and psychological needs while promoting socio-economic empowerment and long-term
stability. The study applied a mixed-methods approach to obtain comprehensive data. Simple random sampling
technique was used to select a sample of 228 individuals from beneficiaries of return and reintegration
programs, programme administrators, case and law enforcement officers. Data was collected through
structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with beneficiaries and key informants. The study
found that VRR contributes largely towards reduced trafficking in that at least 81% of the participants
understood the return processes and procedures that they should follow. Similarly, the study found positive
association between social economic interventions and risk reduction (r = 0.722) which means that
participation in economic empowerment programs was association with greater reduction of trafficking. In
terms of challenges, economic challenges were the most common barriers to re-integration. From the findings,
49% of the participants were unable to find employment or start a business which further exposes them to
trafficking due to income instability. Other common challenges identified were legal, shelter and
accommodation as well as social-cultural challenges. In terms of the clinic, 85% agreed that the programs
offered aligned with the international best standards. However, there were mixed concerns in regard to the
effectiveness of the programs in addressing the local concerns of beneficiaries. As a result, the study
recommends that there is a need for developing programs that not only meets the short-term survival needs
but also provides avenues for sustainable livelihoods. The study concludes that the VRR programs reduces the
likelihood of re-integration by increasing awareness, enhancing socio-economic resilience and supporting reintegration of returnees. The study contributes to the existing knowledge of anti-trafficking literature and
efforts by providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the programs. | en_US |
