NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE LAUNCH CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING PROBE AFTER BBC EXPOSÉ

The National Police Service (NPS) has mobilised a multi-agency response team to investigate alarming allegations of child sexual exploitation in Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County, following a BBC Africa Eye documentary titled Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade.

Officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU) have been deployed to Maai Mahiu, where preliminary statements have been recorded from three persons of interest. 

“We recognise the urgency and gravity of the issues raised and are treating them with the seriousness they deserve,” read the statement.

The NPS is prioritising the identification, rescue and psychosocial support of affected children, with investigations actively underway to ensure perpetrators face full legal consequences.

In alignment with Article 53(1) of Kenya’s Constitution and the Children Act (2022), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said its mandate to prosecute crimes against children, including trafficking, sexual abuse, and exploitation. 

“We also recognise the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation, which prompted the establishment of a dedicated forensic cybercrime unit the first of its kind in Africa linked directly to INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.“

The NPS urges citizens to report any information related to child exploitation through: Emergency toll-free lines.