Nairobi, Kenya – A recent BBC Africa Eye documentary, "Madams: Exposing Kenya's Child Sex Trade," has sparked a heated controversy, with Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen strongly condemning it as an attempt to undermine the nation's image.
The documentary, which aired on August 4, 2025, focused on the alarming prevalence of child sex trafficking in Maai Mahiu. However, CS Murkomen, speaking to the press on Wednesday, claimed the film failed in its objective due to what he described as falsified information from some interviewees.
According to Murkomen, investigations have revealed that some girls featured in the documentary allegedly lied about their age to qualify for "promised sponsorship" from the BBC. "Our investigations have established that the BBC team primarily sought underage girls involved in sex work. However, some of the girls falsified their age to qualify for the promised sponsorship by the BBC team," Murkomen stated.
Murkomen further noted that no arrests have been made in connection with the sex trafficking claims as investigations are ongoing to trace witnesses and link all parties involved through financial records and call data.
Instead of focusing solely on the alleged trafficking, the CS turned his attention to the journalists behind the documentary, warning that police would take action against them.
The BBC exposé had painted a grim picture, detailing how girls as young as 13 were allegedly lured into the sex industry for money. One woman, identified as Nyambura in the documentary, was quoted saying, "Prostitution is a cash crop in Maai Mahiu; the truckers basically fuel it. And that's how we benefit. It's been normalized in Maai Mahiu."
Following the documentary's release, both the National Police Service (NPS) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) launched separate investigations into the claims. The ODPP specifically directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe the matter and submit its findings within seven days, emphasizing their mandate to prosecute all offenses, including human rights violations and crimes against children. "Article 53 of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees the rights of children, including protection from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, and all forms of violence and exploitation," the ODPP statement read in part.
This unfolding situation raises significant questions about journalistic ethics, the responsibility of media organizations, and the protection of vulnerable individuals in sensitive investigations.
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