A coordinated operation by detectives in Mombasa has led to the arrest of two suspects accused of involvement in the exploitation and online solicitation of minors.
The operation was carried out by the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU) in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Changamwe.
The arrests followed intelligence reports on a case involving a 41-year-old woman alleged to have used a dating site to exploit her three children, aged 13, 7, and 4.
Preliminary investigations suggest the woman was generating income by sharing sexually explicit content involving the minors and arranging meetings with individuals in exchange for money.
Further inquiries also indicated that her 52-year-old husband may have sexually abused their eldest daughter since she was 11.
“The swift apprehension of the suspects was aided by forensic leads,” a statement from the DCI said.
Both suspects have since been arraigned at the Mombasa Law Courts.
The woman was granted a bond of Sh1 million with two sureties of the same amount.
The man remains in custody at Shanzu Prison pending a bond ruling set for July 15, 2025.
The government continues to prioritise child protection, focusing on prevention and safeguarding minors from violence, exploitation, and abuse.
This commitment is supported by international and regional treaties as well as national laws and programs promoting child rights.
Authorities have cautioned that while digital technologies bring benefits, they also create avenues for crimes such as child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The growing use of the internet has contributed to the production and circulation of illegal child abuse material, online grooming, sextortion, and live streaming of sexual abuse.
The case underscores the challenges facing law enforcement in tackling online child exploitation and highlights the crucial role of specialised units in rescuing victims and prosecuting offenders.
The arrests in Mombasa form part of wider efforts by Kenyan authorities to dismantle networks involved in child trafficking and pornography, with hundreds of children rescued annually and suspects charged in related operations.
