• IJM senior manager Aggrey Juma says the southern part of the Coast remains a major child sex trafficking hotspot.
• Says the levels of poverty among the coastal communities and lack of adequate livelihood alternatives have contributed to increase in sex trafficking.
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
Child sex trafficking is increasingly prevalent at the Coast, the International Justice Mission has said.
According to a 2019 survey by IJM, an estimated 20,000 girls and boys were victims of different forms of child sex trafficking in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale.
Last year, the numbers dropped to about 6,000 because of the Covid-19 containment measures, which restricted movement.
IJM senior manager Aggrey Juma said the southern part of the Coast remains a major child sex trafficking hotspot.
Juma said levels of poverty among coastal communities and lack of adequate livelihood alternatives have contributed to an increase in sex trafficking.
“We also observed that the crime is facilitated by family members, friends and community members, tourists as well as strangers who act as recruiters, agents, pimps and transporters. While some customers are foreign investors, the majority are locals and many engage with individual victims on a long-term basis,” Juma said.
In the coastal communities, 40 per cent of the population live on less than $2 (about Sh225) per day and many children and their parents are forced into differing forms of exploitation in exchange for money and essential goods and services.
“Child sex trafficking remains one of the most prevalent violations against children, but due to its clandestine and criminal nature, cases frequently go undetected or unreported,” Juma said.
He said some local and international tourists take advantage of young people.
“We have high prevalence rate of child sex trafficking at the Coast compared to other regions because of a number of factors. The poverty levels and the tourists who come to the region and see an opportunity to engage in sex with children. A lot of children face exploitation,” Juma said.
He was speaking during the inaugural annual conference on child sex trafficking at the Coast at PrideInn Hotel Mombasa.
The conference seeks to facilitate dialogue, debate, and awareness about child sex trafficking at the Kenyan Coast and factors that influence its prevalence and the challenges that actors have faced.
In 2018, the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations handled 3,160 cases.
In 2019, the unit handled 4,133 cases.
Mombasa chief magistrate Martha Mutuku, who was also present during the opening of the conference, said the Judiciary is committed towards fast-tracking cases involving children to ensure they do not drag on for a long time in court.
Mutuku said the Judiciary had put in place structures to ensure the welfare of children is protected, even by having separate courts to handle matters concerning children.
"The Judiciary has also put in place a tracking system to track sexual offences. We encourage the fast-tracking of cases involving children victims to ensure we don't derail the efforts made other stakeholders in building up the cases," she said.
A father whose 12-year-old son was molested by a person known close to the family in Malindi last year says the wheels of justice have been moving at a slow pace.
The man said his son had gone to visit their aunt in Malindi when he was attacked and defiled by a neighbour.
The perpetrator was arrested, but released a week later on bond.
“Despite the reports from the police and doctors, the matter is yet to be concluded, one year later. The suspect is walking scot-free and this has really affected my child,” he said.
The father called on the Judiciary to fast-track cases where children are attacked and molested so that justice is served quickly.
“My child’s school performance has drastically gone down. He no longer wants to socialise with others due to the fear and stigma. I want justice for my son,” the man said.