Women governors have condemned the trafficking and sexual exploitation of young girls in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, following shocking revelations in a BBC Africa Eye investigation.
The exposé uncovered how girls as young as 13 are being lured into the sex trade, sometimes by older women known as “madams.” Undercover filming showed two women admitting they knew the practice was illegal before introducing investigators to underage girls.
In a joint statement, the G7 Women Governors’ Caucus called the exploitation “abhorrent and inhuman,” describing it as a gross violation of human rights and a direct attack on the dignity and future of children.
“The sexual abuse and trafficking of minors is a tragedy that reflects deep societal failure. We cannot, and must not, turn a blind eye while children are being robbed of their innocence under the veil of poverty, impunity, and systemic neglect,” the governors said.
They urged the National Government, including the Ministry of Interior, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to take immediate action. They also called for a multi-agency programme to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate victims.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika separately condemned the revelations, describing them as “deeply disturbing” and “a moral and societal emergency.”
“As a mother, I am appalled that children—some as young as 12—are being exploited and abandoned in a vicious cycle of poverty and abuse,” she said.
Governor Kihika directed the County Security Committee to launch a coordinated crackdown on all individuals, networks, and establishments involved in the exploitation of children.
“No one—regardless of their status—will be spared accountability,” she warned.
She also ordered emergency response teams from the County Departments of Children Services, Gender, and Youth Affairs to be deployed to Mai Mahiu to rescue victims, provide medical care, and offer psychological support. The county is also working with the Department of Education to help rescued girls return to school.
“The exploitation of our children will not be tolerated in Nakuru County. We must restore dignity, protect the vulnerable, and hold all enablers of this evil to account,” Governor Kihika said.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
