Kenyan Acrobats Escape Trafficking Ring in Taiwan

Two Kenyan acrobatic performers currently face an uncertain future in Taiwan after falling victim to a human trafficking operation.

Lured by promises of lucrative opportunities in the Taiwanese art scene, their dreams were shattered upon arrival. Instead, they were forced into gruelling manual labour on farms and recycling facilities in an undisclosed location. The men's ordeal began when an unscrupulous agent capitalized on their talents, convincing them to sign contracts they did not fully understand. Despite the contracts classifying their work as white-collar, their reality was far bleaker.

They were subjected to long hours of exhausting labour and paid significantly less than the minimum wage. To add to their hardship, they were forced to sleep in horse stables after their days of toil. Having escaped their captors, the men now reside in shelters, yearning to utilize their skills. Their fervent desire is to find placement within Taiwan's performing arts industry. One man expressed a heartfelt plea: "Even without employment, I continue to hone my talent. If I could work in a circus, it would be a dream come true."

Taiwanese authorities suspect the men were victims of a human trafficking syndicate that smuggles migrant workers into the country. This case, unfortunately, reflects a growing trend of Kenyan workers being targeted by unscrupulous agents who exploit their desire for a better life abroad. In January Indian Police rescued a Kenyan woman who had been lured to India with the promise of a better job only to find herself sold into sex work in a harrowing tale of human trafficking.

She was eventually rescued by Indian authorities after managing to escape from her captors. Her initial intention of finding employment at a grocery store in India took a dark turn when she fell prey to a deceptive plan that coerced her into sex work.