Kenyan Woman Among Three Rescued in India Over Suspected Sex Trade

Indian police have rescued a Kenyan woman and two other women during raids on two hotels in Patna, Bihar, as authorities investigate suspected trafficking and prostitution-related activities.

The operation took place in Danapur, on the outskirts of Patna, after police received information about alleged illegal activities at two hotels. A team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Ajit Kumar raided the premises near Saguna Mor and along Gola Road.

At the first hotel, officers found a foreign national believed to be a Kenyan citizen. Police seized mobile phones, a photocopy of her passport, hotel records and other documents as they worked to establish her identity and determine how she came to be at the premises.

Police also rescued two women from the second hotel and recovered mobile phones and registration records. The managers of both hotels were arrested as investigators sought to determine whether the establishments were being used to facilitate illegal activities.

A case has been registered under India's Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. Investigators are examining electronic devices and hotel records to identify people who may have been involved in recruiting, transporting or facilitating the women. They are also investigating whether the two hotels were linked to a wider criminal network operating beyond Patna.

The case comes amid previous reports of Kenyan women being trafficked to India after being offered employment under false pretences. Some victims have reportedly travelled believing they had secured legitimate jobs before being forced into exploitative situations.

In 2023, police in Goa rescued five Kenyan women and arrested two Kenyan nationals who were accused of running an international trafficking network. Investigators alleged that the women had been recruited with promises of jobs in the hospitality industry before being forced into prostitution.

Another case was reported in Chennai in early 2024, when a Kenyan woman was rescued after allegedly being deceived with an offer of employment and later subjected to sexual exploitation. Kenyan authorities have previously raised concerns over the number of citizens who have faced exploitation in India. 

The government has told lawmakers that hundreds of Kenyans have been repatriated from the country after experiencing various forms of exploitation. Some women had reportedly travelled expecting to work in sectors such as beauty and personal care before encountering trafficking networks and abusive conditions.

Although the official figures cover different forms of exploitation and trafficking and are not limited to prostitution-related cases, they point to the risks faced by Kenyans seeking employment abroad. Unverified job offers, economic pressures and deceptive recruitment practices can leave job seekers vulnerable to cross-border trafficking.