Child rights group demands action after BBC exposé on Mai Mahiu sex trade
The group warned that weak law enforcement allows offenders to escape justice, violating children’s rights under the Constitution of Kenya
The Coalition Against Sexual Violence (CASV) has raised alarm over disturbing findings in a recent BBC Africa Eye investigation that exposed the exploitation of minors in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County.
The documentary, MADAM: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade, aired on August 4, 2025, and showed children being lured into commercial sex work. CASV says the footage has been in the hands of investigative authorities, but little has been done.
“The continued silence and failure to act on such clear evidence puts children, families and communities at serious risk,” CASV said in a statement posted on X on August 11.
The group warned that weak law enforcement allows offenders to escape justice, violating children’s rights under the Constitution of Kenya, the Children Act (2022), the Sexual Offences Act (2006) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
According to CASV, the exposé revealed serious crimes, including child trafficking, sexual exploitation, grooming, defilement, abuse, and exposing minors to health dangers.
“The state has the duty to protect the dignity, safety and welfare of all children in Kenya, no matter their background or where they live,” the coalition said.
CASV is demanding immediate arrests and prosecutions of those shown in the BBC documentary. It also wants urgent support for survivors, including safe housing, medical check-ups, trauma counselling, legal help, and assistance to rebuild their lives free from stigma.
The organization further urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to open a formal investigation. It called on the government to invest more in local child protection systems.
Government agencies named in the appeal include the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Council for Children’s Services, and the National Police Service.
“Let this not be just another wave of public outrage. The bravery of survivors, whistleblowers and journalists must be matched by equal courage from our institutions. The children of Mai Mahiu and the country deserve better,” CASV stated.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS) has acknowledged the seriousness of the claims. In a press release on August 6, NPS said a multi-agency team, including officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), is already on the ground in Mai Mahiu.
The police said statements have been taken from three persons of interest and pledged to handle the matter “with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.”
