Opinion | Human trafficking threatens our society & modern day slavery, action be taken It's time to end human trafficking

Lately Wajir is on the radar on the lists of easiest enroute of Human trafficking  it's a worldwide scourge, each day tenths of immigrants make their way to our County some making their destination to Nairobi or Mombasa - Ethiopians are the heavenly immigrants, somalis and other nationalities are least.

They use Ethiopia Moyale route traveling through dilapidated roads that are not manned by security agents - Moyale,Bute, Buna, Eldas, Basir, Arbajahan,Qara all the way to lower and upper Eastern regions. Some even carry bhang- land cruiser mainly used .

The traffickers are making millions through this illegal lucrative business -Human trafficking, already is the second-largest criminal industry in the world at $32 billion annually. it's also the fastest growing human rights violations.

While this might seem like a distant problem to our state, the reality is that human trafficking is hitting Wajir county and some of the most vulnerable among us every day.

Migration is increasingly seen as an option to escape conflict, instability, food insecurity, natural disasters and climate change, and we know that with large-scale movements of people, the opportunities for criminal elements to rise and then expand to take advantage of those on the move increase.

It's public domain we have seen unforgettable images on our screens desperate families in sweltering shipping containers and rickety boats; bodies washed up on shores and beaches following failed voyages; and humans scarred and broken from years of abuse and exploitation, seeking better life.

Wajir county lately turned to be enroute passage of human trafficking destiny where people are trafficked - due to the political instability in some of our neighbouring countries, some seeking political asylums, porous border, corruption and brokers are some of the leeways to human trafficking.

The increase of drugs abuse, defilement, thieves ,rape , lack of informal employment and other rise of moral decadence is as result of immigrants- it's clear enough we witnessed in our courts the government repatariate twenties of aliens mostly Ethiopians.

In the United States, slavery may be remembered as an abolished practice of the past, but it is still happening today. It has been carried on through a new, illegal outlet: human trafficking- through use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.

 Children and women are often the most vulnerable to this type of trafficking. These victims may suffer serious trauma, leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, sleeping disorders or eating disorders. Along with reproductive problems, victims may also contract infectious diseases from unsanitary living environments.

Labor trafficking, much like it sounds, forces victims to perform labor or service. This type of trafficking is the most similar to the historical, unethical practice of slavery. 

With Wajir county lying on tail of poorest county many innocent  people can be more susceptible to threats or coercion.

promising of jobs, as everyone knows there is massive Unemployment , girls are mostly fall into victims due to povery and in need of jobs , struggle to find one securing opportunities is zero, traffickers will often target these needy individuals and blackmail them with the knowledge that they are financially insecure.

In our county we have seen hundreds of immigrants mainly Ethiopians origin- they work in our houses, in our farms, doing water vending and many chores of work - they brought more harm than good, cases reported of rape , bestiality ,incest , smuggling drug  "SHASHAMANE" - they are threat to our security, our culture , even causing mayhem in our county. 

Human trafficking is on the rise, traffickers uses different ways to woe innocent people - girls are victims, falling in this cobweb of exploitation - with influence through brokers many girls were shipped to Nairobi with promise of good life, jobs but end up commercial sex workers - Today in Wajir we have agents who secretly working with the traffickers. our girls are in risk to either diseases or sexually molested.

 They have mastered a way to coerce this young girl they use sugar-mumies in the pretext of friends they engage in attracting desperate,poor, single parents, orphan, iliterare young girls. 

This local network work around the clock to register as many as 10- 15 young girls in a day. Have you asked yourself the missing of girls,who have been reported they lost? I think the answer is good as you imagine (I will ink in another episode). 

Gaining the trust of their victims, traffickers will later exploit them through details they learn over time. Another thing that puts at risk is addiction to drugs or alcohol- When you see a victim of trafficking, you may notice abuse, fear and an inability to speak out. Remember, the trafficker will often control their victims. 

To intercept this inhuman ordeal it's upon everyone to take part in protection of our people especially our girl (youths) Our government law enforcement should work on programs to end human trafficking. Through legislation in County Assembly we must enact  several legal measures and efforts to combat human trafficking. our government should form task force  to combat human trafficking and funding opportunities for victims,yes radical change will not happen overnight but we should stay firm to end this exploitation.

Collectively it's everybody's responsibility to acts as protector and raise concerns moreso on actions that are necessary to help or work with agencies to apprehend this culprits - further fast-track programs  in the radio stations to enlighten the public on the threats of human traffickers has to the both security and society  -we should work tirelessly to ensure our incredible law enforcement and other first responders have the resources and training needed to spot trafficking and address it in their local communities.

in short Human trafficking is an issue we cannot deny it's time we fight against it in all means. Through Nyumba Kumi initiative is best call to end this illegal business - working closely with security agents by reporting suspicious characters thus we Will save hundreds of innocent people.

In addition to awareness and education initiatives, one major step we can and must make on the country level is to secure our porous borders.

However, we all have an interest in maintaining respect for human dignity and in upholding human rights.

God bless Wajir County.