Amnesty Kenya criticises Murkomen’s remarks on BBC child trafficking exposé
Amnesty Kenya has hit out at Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for dismissing the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s Africa exposé documentary on child sexual exploitation in Maai Mahiu.
In an official letter dated Friday, August 15, 2025, Amnesty stated that Murkomen’s remarks undermined the survivors’ experiences while empowering the perpetrators of child sex trafficking.
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“Amnesty International Kenya is deeply concerned by the remarks by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, terming the BBC Africa Eye, Madams of Mai Mahiu, expose by BBC Africa Eye as a “hoax”. These remarks not only water down the lived experiences of the survivors but also embolden the perpetrators of child sex trafficking and are a dangerous attempt to discredit and silence legitimate journalism,” the statement read.
The human rights organisation further stated that the BBC submitted evidence of the exposé to the National Police Service in March 2025 before airing the documentary.
“The BBC submitted evidence from its independent investigation into the child sex trafficking allegations to the National Police Service in March 2025, urging an immediate probe and protection of survivors. The documentary, released five months later, tragically highlights the fact that the police had taken no substantive action. This inaction is a shocking dereliction of duty and a blatant failure to uphold the state’s responsibility to protect its most vulnerable citizens,”the statement read.
Investigations
Additionally, Amnesty called for swift investigations into the matter, adding that perpetrators should be held accountable and brought to justice.
“We call upon the National Police Service to comprehensively, impartially and transparently investigate these crimes exposed by the documentary. The perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice,” the statement read.
Amnesty also urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the police’s failure to act on the BBC’s evidence, noting that five months of inaction on such serious allegations warranted oversight.
“We also call on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to immediately launch its own investigation into the police’s failure to act on the evidence submitted by the BBC. A five-month period of inaction on such serious allegations is a clear case for oversight,” the statement read.
Amnesty Kenya reiterated that the government was obligated under international, regional, and constitutional provisions to protect children from exploitation and abuse and urged justice institutions to act swiftly to end impunity and ensure justice and rehabilitation for survivors.
Murkomen’s remarks
Murkomen made his remarks on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, when he appeared before the National Assembly.
“The investigation established that the BBC primarily sourced underage girls involved in sex work. However, some of the witnesses falsified their age to qualify for the promised sponsorship,” Murkomen told MPs.
He cited the case of Lucy Njoroghe, a former commercial sex worker now volunteering as a peer educator at Karagita health centre in Naivasha. Murkomen said Njoroghe claimed to have rescued four young women from the streets, but investigations showed they were adults.
“Michelle Wanjiku, 20; Mary Wairimu, 19; Elizabeth Nyambura, 24; and Anne Njeri, 22, were all interviewed, their statements recorded, and copies of their identification obtained,” Murkomen explained.
