Lobby calls for urgent action after BBC exposé on child exploitation
The Coalition Against Sexual Violence (CASV) has expressed concern over revelations in a recent BBC Africa Eye documentary.
The documentary dubbed MADAM: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade, aired on August 4, 2025, contained footage showing minors being recruited into commercial sex work in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County.
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In a statement on the X account on August 11, 2025, CASV stated that the footage had been available to investigative authorities.
“The persistent silence and willful disregard of such damning evidence continue to endanger the safety and well-being of children, families, and entire communities,” the statement stated.
CASV added that weak enforcement hampers accountability for offenders and breaches children’s rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya, the Children Act (2022), the Sexual Offences Act (2006), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The coalition remarked that the exposé highlighted serious offences, including sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors, sexual grooming, defilement, abuse, and exposure to health risks.
“The state bears the ultimate responsibility for upholding the dignity, safety, and welfare of all children in Kenya, regardless of their socio-economic background or location,” the coalition stated.
Push for swift justice
CASV called for immediate arrests and prosecutions of those featured in the documentary, as well as urgent protection and support for survivors.
“The survivors must be placed in safe housing, offered medical checkups and trauma counselling, legal assistance and supported to rebuild their lives without stigma,” the statement read.
The group also urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to launch a formal inquiry and called for increased government investment in grassroots child protection systems.
It urged relevant government bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Council for Children’s Services, and the National Police Service, to act urgently and transparently.
“Let this not be just another moment of outrage. The courage shown by survivors, whistleblowers and journalists must be met with equal courage by our institutions. The children of Mai Mahiu and does the country deserve better?” the coalition appealed.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS) recently responded to the BBC Africa Eye documentary, acknowledging the seriousness of the issues raised about child exploitation in Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County.
In a press statement released on August 6, 2025, the NPS emphasised its commitment to addressing the problem with urgency and thoroughness.
“A multi-agency team, including specialised officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), has been deployed to Maai Mahiu. The team has already taken statements from three persons of interest connected to the case,” the statement read.
“We recognise the urgency and gravity of the issues raised and are treating them with the seriousness they deserve.”
