Kenya Airways Leads Global Fight Against Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a global crime that often relies on commercial air travel to move victims swiftly and discreetly across borders. Every flight, every airport, every connection can either be a path to freedom or a corridor of exploitation.

Recognising our unique position and moral obligation, we choose the former. In line with our safety culture, we are committed to playing a decisive role in the global fight against this heinous crime.

In the words of our Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Hellen Mathuka , “every journey should begin and end in safety and no one should ever be trafficked through the very systems designed to connect us.”

Guided by this belief, we stand as a global pioneer, having launched the first-ever airline Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP)Policy in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in March 2023.

A policy that is embedded in our operations, our training, and our values, inspiring mandatory adoption across the industry by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

We are also proud to be among the few global airlines with certified Trainers on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants. From our cabin crew to our ground staff, our people are trained to be the first line of defence. Their vigilance has resulted in real-time interventions, turning potential tragedies into triumphant stories.

This year’s World Day Against Human Trafficking reminded us of the grim reality that millions across the globe still face: being bought, sold, exploited, and denied their freedom. It challenged us to reflect deeply, act boldly, and stand together against one of the most insidious crimes of our time.

Our frontline readiness reflects the urgency and seriousness of the crime, echoed as well in this year’s theme, “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation.” The calculated nature of this crime calls for equally coordinated and collective action across sectors, borders, and institutions.

As the African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. In this fight, we have chosen to go far together.

Embodying this spirit, in June 2024, we signed a historic MoU with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the first of its kind between IOM and any airline. The partnership focuses on protection, training, capacity building, and victim assistance, advancing our role in the aviation sector’s anti-trafficking efforts.

Further solidifying our initiatives, in collaboration with HAART Kenya and a multi-agency coalition – including the Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs, the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat (CTiP), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Transnational Organized Crime Unit (DCI-TOCU) – we successfully repatriated 158 victims of human trafficking from a scam compound in Myanmar between February and April this year. This was more than a flight; it was a lifeline, restoring freedom, dignity, and hope.

Anchored in our safety culture and driven by a profound moral obligation, as Kenya Airways, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fight this crime. But we know we cannot do it alone.  We call upon all stakeholders to join us in ensuring the skies are always a pathway to freedom, not a corridor to exploitation for anyone.

Together, we can build a future where every traveller is protected and every journey is one of hope and freedom.