The BBC Africa Eye probe reveals two women, known as "madams," openly discussing how they manipulate and profit from underage girls as young as 13 in the sex industry. Despite raising serious concerns, little has been done legally to combat this issue, prompting urgent calls for action and support for vulnerable youths.
Undercover Investigation Unveils Child Prostitution Ring in Kenya
Undercover Investigation Unveils Child Prostitution Ring in Kenya
A recent undercover investigation has shed light on the alarming recruitment of minors into prostitution in Maai Mahiu, a significant trucking hub in Kenya.
Two undercover investigators have unveiled a disturbing network involving women known as "madams," who facilitate child prostitution in Maai Mahiu, Kenya. This crucial transit town, located in the Rift Valley, is a notorious hub for the sex trade, particularly among vulnerable minors.
The BBC Africa Eye’s investigation captures footage of women like Nyambura, who shamelessly admits to manipulating underage girls—some as young as 13—by enticing them with sweets. In Maai Mahiu, where the local economy heavily relies on truckers, prostitution is described as a "cash crop." Nyambura blatantly acknowledges that she has been recruiting minors for sex work, highlighting how normalised this practice has become in the area.
According to the investigators, Nyambura shared her methods, explaining that she must operate clandestinely at night to avoid police attention. Kenya's national laws on adult prostitution are ambiguous, but the trafficking of minors carries severe penalties. Yet, the lack of witness testimonies from frightened children renders successful prosecutions rare.
In these harrowing encounters captured on camera, underage girls recount daily abuses they endure, often with multiple clients. A fellow madam named Cheptoo also articulated her financial motivations, stating that selling young girls provides her with a comfortable living, revealing a chilling insight into the industry's operations.
Estimations on the number of minors involved in Kenya’s sex trade remain murky, with figures from 2012 suggesting around 30,000. Moreover, the 2022 report by the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery revealed nearly 2,500 children forced into sex work in specific coastal regions. Despite serious allegations and evidence presented to Kenyan authorities, no arrests have so far been made, revealing a systemic failure to protect the vulnerable youth.
As a response to the widespread abuse, a former sex worker known as "Baby Girl" now offers refuge to girls escaping sexual exploitation. After enduring years in the trade, she shares poignant stories of resilience, emphasizing how many girls fall victim due to broken homes and violence.
Despite Baby Girl's crucial outreach work supported by USAID, looming funding cuts threaten to curtail these life-saving programs. With many girls depending on her guidance, the urgency for support has never been greater. As these children strive to heal from their traumatic pasts, they continue to need community support and legal reforms to safeguard their futures against ongoing exploitation in Kenya’s dark underbelly.
