State moves to rescue child sex trafficking victims featured in BBC exposé

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaks in the National Assembly on August 13, 2025. /MINA

The government has launched efforts to rescue victims of child sex trafficking exposed in a recent BBC documentary, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.

Appearing before MPs to respond to questions regarding the disturbing revelations, Murkomen said the Child Protection Unit (CPU) had commenced operations to trace and secure the affected children.

“The Children Protection Unit will provide psychosocial support services to address the emotional and mental well-being of the victims,” Murkomen said.

He added that the rescued children would be placed in appropriate facilities, including rescue centres, children’s homes, and, where necessary, borstal institutions.

The CS assured MPs that the children would undergo thorough medical examinations and receive any required treatment to support their physical recovery.

“Continuous follow-up and monitoring will be undertaken to ensure the safety and successful rehabilitation of the victims,” he added.

The BBC documentary exposed a deeply troubling sex trafficking network operating in Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County, where girls—some as young as 13—were reportedly coerced into prostitution by women known as “madams.”

These traffickers often posed as mentors and protectors to gain the girls' trust before exploiting them.

Murkomen confirmed that the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit launched investigations immediately after receiving the BBC’s evidence in March.

Several witnesses have already recorded statements to aid in identifying the perpetrators and rescuing the minors.

However, the CS noted that preliminary investigations suggest that some girls interviewed by the BBC may have falsified their ages to qualify for promised sponsorship opportunities.

“The matter remains under active investigation, and upon its conclusion, appropriate legal action will be taken against individuals found culpable of any offences,” Murkomen said.

He acknowledged the broader issue of child sexual exploitation across the country, particularly along the Northern Corridor, a major international transport route that has become a hotspot for trafficking and exploitation.

The government has reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable children and bringing those responsible for such heinous crimes to justice.