NAIROBI, Kenya — A team of Kenyan law enforcement officers is undergoing intensive training in Botswana this week as part of a regional effort to combat human trafficking and bolster investigative capabilities across Africa.
Five officers drawn from Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — including units focused on anti-human trafficking, child protection, and economic crimes — have joined counterparts from Botswana, Cameroon, Djibouti, Gabon, Mauritius, and Lesotho for the specialized course.
The program is being conducted at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Otse, Botswana.
The training, led by Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit, is designed to sharpen investigative techniques, improve victim identification and support, and foster stronger collaboration between law enforcement and victim service providers.
“This is about more than just policing,” said a U.S. official familiar with the program. “It’s about strengthening cross-border partnerships and developing the tools needed to disrupt human trafficking networks that prey on the most vulnerable.”
The initiative is part of a broader U.S.-Africa partnership aimed at dismantling transnational organized crime and reinforcing human rights protections.
Kenya’s participation builds on recent national efforts to address trafficking, including the implementation of a screening tool for identifying victims at diplomatic missions, adoption of a five-year National Action Plan (2022–2027), increased funding for anti-trafficking operations, and stricter oversight of labor recruitment agencies.
ILEA Gaborone, which is Africa’s premier institution for regional law enforcement training, was established in 2000 through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Botswana.
It serves as a hub for security cooperation and has trained thousands of officers from across the continent.
The academy’s latest program is expected to equip at least 40 officers from the participating nations with modern investigative skills and a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding trafficking in persons.
“This training supports Kenya’s long-term commitment to eradicating human trafficking by investing in the capacity of those on the front lines,” said a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
