By Grace Gilo
The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a statement following the BBC Africa Eye documentary titled ‘Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade.’
The documentary exposed child exploitation happening at Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County.
“We recognise the urgency and gravity of the issues raised and are treating them with the seriousness they deserve,” read the statement in part.
Muchiri Nyaga, the NPS Spokesperson, stated that in direct response to the documentary, a multi-agency team, including specialised officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), has been deployed to Maai Mahiu, where statements have been taken from three persons of interest in the documentary.
Immediate steps have also been taken to identify, rescue and support the affected children.
“Investigations are ongoing, with the aim of arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators,” he reaffirmed.
Emphasizing on Article 53(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 8 of the Children Act (2022), the NPS reiterated that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is fully committed to ensuring that all reported cases of child trafficking, sexual abuse, exploitation and related crimes are thoroughly investigated, guaranteeing that every child grows up safely and has the opportunity to thrive.
“We must reaffirm a fundamental tenet: that our children are our future,” the service reiterated.
Additionally, the Service stated that it had recognised 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.
“This unit, staffed by cybercrime experts, works closely with the International Victim Identification Network (VIN) to identify and rescue children depicted in exploitative online content,” said the NPS.
The police urged all citizens to collaborate proactively with the NPS to achieve this goal and called on anyone with information regarding the criminal network to contact them.
“The NPS reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Kenya’s children and ensuring that those who exploit or harm them face justice,” Muchiri noted.