Kenya faces surge in child displacement, trafficking

Kenya recorded a sharp increase in cases of child displacement and trafficking in 2024, even as interventions by child protection agencies declined, the latest government data shows.

The 2025 Economic Survey released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 3,816 children were reported as displaced in 2024, up from only 101 the previous year.

During the same period, cases of child trafficking rose slightly to 2,031 from 2,009 in 2023.

The report showed that violence against children remained alarmingly high.

Although the cases reduced from 143,687 in 2023, they still accounted for 72.7% of all child protection cases, with a total of 123,082 incidents reported.

Other areas highlighted included 27,832 cases related to child custody, 679 children needing registration, 4,468 children in conflict with the law, and 7,385 listed as vulnerable.

While the figures for child-related violations went up in most areas, the number of interventions recorded by the Directorate of Children Services dropped by 10.8% in 2024, totalling 169,303 cases, down from 189,867 in 2023.

Repatriation and reunification efforts fell by 32.6% to 1,479 cases, while legal processes dropped by 16.3% to 4,285.

The services recorded in the report include alternative family care, family support and reconciliation, legal interventions, diversion, and counselling.

The data also indicated that both male and female children continued to face similar levels of vulnerability.

Meanwhile, the number of pending child protection cases went down from 100,849 in 2023 to 91,322 in 2024, pointing to a gradual easing of the backlog despite the rising number of reported violations.

Away from child welfare, the report also showed a major decline in the issuance of work permits to foreigners after the government raised immigration fees.

A Gazette notice published on November 7, 2023, indicated new visa charges which came into effect in March 2024.

A visitor applying for a single journey visa now pays $100 (about Sh13,000), double the previous fee of $50. A multiple journey visa was raised from $100 to $500 (about Sh64,600).

The cost of a class G work permit increased from Sh100,000 to Sh250,000, while a class D permit rose from Sh200,000 to Sh500,000.

Following these changes, the number of work permits issued in 2024 fell by 29.8% to 6,448. Renewals also dropped by 18.8% to 10,392.

The number of registered foreign nationals in the country decreased by 25.9% to 27,853.

However, there was a sharp contrast in the number of Kenyans seeking to travel abroad.

Passport issuance grew by 53.9% to 621,800 in 2024, showing a growing desire among citizens to explore opportunities outside the country.

The report also noted declines in key identity document processing indicators.

Applications for national identity cards fell by 21.2%, while the number of cards produced and collected declined by 3.4% and 8.6%, respectively.

Despite the national drop, Lamu recorded a 50% rise in ID card applications, reaching 3,373.

Marsabit saw the highest increase in cards produced at 54.7%, while Turkana experienced the steepest fall in new applications at 47.4%.

The Foreign Office issued fewer ID cards in 2024 — just 1,263 compared to 1,847 in 2023.

Voter registration remained unchanged from 2022.

The number of registered voters stood at 22,120,458, including 11,254,039 men, 10,866,419 women, 10,443 diaspora voters, and 7,843 imprisoned voters.

The report explained that no voter registration activities took place in 2024 due to the absence of commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

In a related trend, Kenya witnessed a surge in the number of registered refugees and asylum seekers.

The figure rose by 19.1% to 823,932 in 2024. Of this number, children accounted for a 22.4% increase and adults 15.5%.

Children and males represented the largest share of this group, at 53.3% and 51.1%, respectively.

Dadaab in Garissa County hosted the largest number, 416,403 refugees and asylum seekers, which translates to 50.5 % of the national total.

Dadaab saw a 29.9% rise in population, while Kakuma and urban areas increased by 9.6% and 10.2 %, respectively.

The report noted that most of the refugees and asylum seekers came from Somalia (56.9%), followed by South Sudan (23.4%).