Police IG Douglas Kanja./FILE
The National Police Service (NPS) has launched investigations into alleged child exploitation in Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County, following a BBC Africa Eye documentary that exposed the abuse.
The documentary, "Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade," aired recently and revealed disturbing scenes of underage girls being exploited for sex. It drew attention to how children, some as young as 12, are lured into the trade under the control of so-called “madams.”
According to BBC Africa Eye investigation, the transit town of Maai Mahiu, in Kenya's Rift Valley, a key transport hub, just 50km (31 miles) east of the capital, Nairobi, is known for prostitution, but it is also a breeding ground for child sexual abuse.
Two undercover investigators, posed as sex workers wanting to learn how to become madams, spent months infiltrating the sex trade in the town.
Their secret filming revealed two different women who said they know it is illegal and then introduced the investigators to underage girls in the sex industry.
The BBC gave all its evidence to the Kenyan police in March and believes the madams have moved location since then.
The BBC's grainy footage filmed on the street in the dark showed one woman, who calls herself Nyambura, laughing as she says: "They're still children, so it's easy to manipulate them by just handing them sweets."
"Prostitution is a cash crop in Maai Mahiu; the truckers basically fuel it. And that's how we benefit. It's been normalised in Maai Mahiu," she explained, adding that she had one girl as young as 13, who had already been "working" for six months.
"It becomes very risky when you're dealing with minors. You can't just bring them out openly in town. I only sneak them out at night in great secrecy," Nyambura said.
In response, the NPS said in a statement was signed by Spokesperson and Director of Corporate Communication, Múchiri Nyaga that it is treating the matter with “the urgency and gravity” it deserves.
“We recognise the urgency and gravity of the issues raised and are treating them with the seriousness they deserve,” read a statement issued on Tuesday, August 6.
“The NPS reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Kenya’s children and ensuring that those who exploit or harm them face justice."
The police have deployed a multi-agency team, including specialists from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), to Maai Mahiu.
So far, statements have been recorded from three persons of interest.
“Immediate steps have also been taken to identify, rescue, and support the affected children,” the statement added.
Investigations are ongoing, and authorities say they are committed to arresting and prosecuting those involved in exploiting minors.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has pledged to fully investigate all cases of child trafficking, sexual abuse, and related crimes.
The police said this is in line with Article 53(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 8 of the Children Act (2022), which guarantee that “every child grows up safely and has the opportunity to thrive.”
“We must reaffirm a fundamental tenet: that our children are our future,” the statement said.
The police also highlighted growing concerns about online child sexual exploitation.
They revealed that Kenya has established the first dedicated forensic cybercrime unit in Africa linked directly to INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.
This unit, which works closely with the International Victim Identification Network (VIN), is responsible for identifying and rescuing children seen in exploitative online content.
The NPS has called on the public to support their efforts.
“We urge all citizens to collaborate proactively with the NPS to achieve this goal,” they said.
Anyone with information has been asked to report to the nearest police station or a law enforcement officer, or call the toll-free numbers 999, 112, or 0800 722 203. The police also shared an end-to-end encrypted WhatsApp number: 0709 570 000.
