An undercover investigation by BBC Africa Eye has unveiled the grim reality of child prostitution in Maai Mahiu, a transit town in Kenya's Rift Valley. This key transport hub, situated just 50 kilometers east of Nairobi, serves as a bustling nexus for lorries and truckers, but it is also notorious for child sexual exploitation. Women known locally as "madams" reportedly engage in the systematic manipulation and abuse of minors, some as young as 13 years old, by luring them into prostitution.
The investigation involved two undercover journalists posing as sex workers interested in becoming madams themselves. Over several months, they filmed secret interactions with these women, revealing chilling practices of exploitation and abuse. The footage included discussions where Nyambura, one of the madams, casually referenced that she had a girl as young as 13 who had been "working" for months, boasting about the ease of manipulating children with simple gestures like handing out sweets.
Despite the provision of evidence to Kenyan police back in March, no arrests have been made, which highlights the difficulties faced in prosecuting individuals involved in child trafficking and abuse. The nature of a crime enveloped in silence and fear often leaves vulnerable minors without the courage to testify, making convictions exceedingly rare.
The laws concerning prostitution are complex. Prostitution itself isn't outright criminalized under Kenyan law, yet local ordinances may prohibit it. Particularly, the act of living off the earnings from prostitution and trafficking minors can result in lengthy prison sentences.
As part of their investigation, the undercover team encountered girls trapped in a horrifying cycle of abuse. One young girl revealed she had sex with up to five men daily, and described the coercion she faces if she refuses to comply with clients' demands, including not using condoms for protection. Many of these girls are orphans or runaways trying to escape abusive situations, only to fall victim to new forms of exploitation upon arrival in urban areas.
Maai Mahiu has become a breeding ground for sexual exploitation, where men and women alike participate in facilitating the abuse of minors. A local figure, known as "Baby Girl," has devoted her life to rescuing young women from these dire circumstances. Having experienced the horrors of the sex trade herself for over four decades, she now provides refuge and support for young women escaping similar fates.
Through her outreach, Baby Girl empowers these young women with skills training in areas such as photography and beauty. However, financial limitations loom large as a recent US government decision to cut funding risks the continuation of her invaluable programs which provide education on sexual health and access to resources for vulnerable communities.
As one young woman, now supported by Baby Girl, stated, "I am not afraid anymore, because Baby Girl is there for me." Her determination to heal from her traumatic past encapsulates the resilience of those affected by this devastating trade in children. Meanwhile, the calls for systemic change and accountability grow louder, urging the Kenyan government to take action against the child sex trade that continues to permeate communities like Maai Mahiu.
