Last Updated: September 26, 2025By Categories:

KWRHP & UN Trust Fund: A Strategic Alliance Against Modern Slavery in Kenya

For countless individuals in  Kenya, modern slavery isn’t a distant concept—it’s a daily reality. In 2023-2024, the Kenya Workers Rights & Harmonization Program (KWRHP) joined forces with the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (UNVTFCS) to launch a relentless, on-the-ground offensive to dismantle these systems of exploitation and bring tangible hope to survivors.

Support Our Ongoing Fight

The Mission & The Partner

The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (UNVTFCS) is a critical global mechanism that empowers frontline organizations to provide direct assistance to victims of slavery. Their support allows grassroots heroes like us to reach into the darkest corners of exploitation and bring light to those trapped within.

Our Shared Goal: To identify, liberate, and rehabilitate victims of contemporary slavery through legal action, psychosocial support, and sustainable economic empowerment.

Child Labour
How we are eradicating
Modern Slavery
Steps we are taking to combat
Human Trafficking
How we are fighting

Impact on the Frontlines: Where We Fought & What We Achieved

With UNVTFCS funding, KWRHP targeted epicenters of exploitation across Western Kenya. Here’s how we made a difference:

  •  At the Busia–Malaba Border

    • The Problem: A hub for human trafficking and forced labor, where vulnerable migrants seeking opportunity were met with coercion and debt bondage.

    • Our Action: KWRHP established a covert monitoring network, provided immediate legal and psychosocial aid to survivors, and exposed the criminal networks preying on hope.

    • The Result: Multiple trafficking rings disrupted and countless individuals protected from exploitation.

  • In the Ikolomani Gold Mines

    • The Problem: Artisanal miners trapped in a brutal cycle of debt bondage, working in perilous conditions for little to no pay.

    • Our Action: We conducted rescue operations, provided legal redress to nullify illegal debts, and launched alternative livelihood programs to break the cycle of dependency.

    • The Result: Miners reclaimed their freedom and dignity, with many now pursuing safe, sustainable trades.

  • In Schools Across Bungoma, Kakamega & Mt. Elgon

    • The Problem: Child labor and forced early marriages robbing the youth of their education and future.

    • Our Action: KWRHP integrated anti-slavery education into school curricula, trained teachers to identify at-risk children, and established community watchdog groups.

    • The Result: A significant increase in child protection reports and a stronger, more informed community shield for children.

  • Addressing Land-Based Coercion

    • The Problem: Land disputes used as a weapon to force families into exploitative labor arrangements.

    • Our Action: We provided legal mediation, rights education, and advocacy to protect land rights and eliminate this root cause of slavery.

    • The Result: Vulnerable families secured their assets and their autonomy, removing a key tool of coercion.

Our amazing team with Nelly Warega UNVTF representative hard at work

A Message of Gratitude

“The UNVTFCS believed in our mission and provided the essential tools to turn our resolve into reality. Their trust empowered us to be more agile, more impactful, and more relentless in our pursuit of justice. This partnership wasn’t just about funding; it was about affirming that every life is worth fighting for.”

— The KWRHP Team

This Fight is Not Over

The systems of exploitation are deep-rooted, but our resolve is deeper. Our work with the UNVTFCS has laid a powerful foundation, but the need for continued intervention is critical.

You Can Help Us Continue This Vital Work

  • Donate: Your contribution directly funds rescue operations, legal aid, and survivor rehabilitation.

  • Volunteer: Lend your skills to our legal, educational, or community outreach programs.

  • Spread the Word: Share this page. Awareness is a powerful weapon against silence.

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