The BBC Africa Eye “Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade” documentary is classic investigative journalism. Given the gravity of the findings and the public call for action to stop the trade in women and girls, the Interior Cabinet Secretary’s reaction was unexpected.
How big a problem does Kenya have and what could be done to better protect them? Told by experienced journalist Njeri Mwangi, the expose uncovered in painful detail and testimony, experiences of both adult and minor sex workers, their rescuer “Baby Girl” and the pimps that profit from the trade.
Investigative researchers camped in the transit town of Maai Mahiu for six months, gained the trust of locals before zeroing in on two women who have built a business trafficking and selling young adult women and minors.
Since the documentary dropped on August 4, more than one million people have watched them describe their business model and the girls and women they exploit. Apart from the courage of the young women and girls who share heart-wrenching testimonies, “Baby Girl” is my hero.
“Baby Girl” stands out as a powerful figure of resistance and resilience. A former sex worker of 40 years, she has transformed herself into a community protector and modern superhero. She now rescues women and girls from exploitation and, supported by USAID until recently, champions HIV prevention.
As public interest peaked, the Gender Ministry condemned the findings. Citing Kenyan law, Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo promised multi-agency action to bring perpetrators to justice. The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions instructed police to act within seven days. However, one day before the deadline, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen declared before the National Assembly, the documentary is a hoax, the girls are not underage and without any evidence, argued they were paid to participate.
The BBC has clarified that the survivors are now adults who were abused as children, and none were paid for their participation. They raise concerns about interviews conducted without legal representation, a valid concern given the criminalisation of sex work in Kenya. Additionally, evidence was shared with the National Police Service five months before the documentary aired, but no action was taken.
The Interior CS statement appears premature and prejudicial. Key questions remain. Why did county security team miss this before journalists? Why did police ignore the tip-off and victims in urgent need? Have the madams “Nyambura” and “Cheptoo” been questioned? How many women and girls have been rescued?
The incident has drawn attention to the Kenyan face of one of the world’s oldest profession, sex work. Last year, it was estimated that there were probably more than 167,000 female sex workers across the country. Nine per cent of them are minors. Criminalised and unprotected, they face harshest side of the legal system, as well as patriarchal and capitalist violence.
Unlike many countries, Kenya has not yet decriminalised consensual adult sex work, leaving sex workers without labour rights, healthcare access or legal protection. The Penal Code (Amendment) Bill (2023), which seeks to repeal sections 153–155, could be transformative.
According to the Kenya Sex Workers Alliance, at least 40 sex workers are killed annually without media coverage. Criminalisation fuels fear, silences victims and enables impunity and extortion by law enforcement.
Decriminalisation of paid sex between consenting adults (not minors) is key to reducing violence, HIV/STI rates and human trafficking, one of the biggest organised crimes in the world. So is zero-tolerance for child sexual exploitation and forced sex labour.
While participating in and promoting paid sex remains a moral debate, let us all draw the line that those who participate must be protected from harm and guaranteed their rights and access to services under the Constitution.
If “child sex for sweets” is obscene, sex for safety is an abomination. The BBC Africa Eye “Madams” documentary gave our 47+1 governments a moment to act. Don’t blow it and betray your responsibility to protect.
