The Nakuru County government has launched an urgent crackdown on individuals and establishments implicated in the rampant child sex trade in Mai Mahiu following disturbing revelations from a recent investigative documentary.
The exposé, aired as part of a major investigative series, unveiled the shocking scale of child exploitation in the area, where minors some as young as 13 are being trafficked into prostitution. The investigation revealed a disturbing network of women known locally as “madams” who manipulate, recruit, and profit from underage girls. These women were caught on hidden cameras openly admitting to treating the exploitation of children as a lucrative business, referring to it as a “cash crop.”
In response to the growing outcry, the county leadership has termed the situation a “societal emergency” and pledged firm action to eliminate the vice. The governor has directed the immediate deployment of emergency response teams to Mai Mahiu to begin a multi-pronged operation targeting both the perpetrators and the support systems enabling such criminal networks to thrive.
These response teams are tasked with identifying and rescuing children currently trapped in the cycle of abuse. Additionally, the teams will provide psychosocial support to the victims, ensuring they receive trauma counseling and the necessary care to begin recovery. Survivors will also be enrolled in safe rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring dignity and creating pathways toward education and empowerment.
The county administration has committed to working closely with national law enforcement agencies and child protection organizations to ensure that those involved in child trafficking are arrested and prosecuted. There is also a call for stricter monitoring of premises suspected of being involved in the trade, and for the local community to take an active role in reporting any suspicious activity.
This decisive response marks a critical step toward addressing the deeply rooted issue of child exploitation in the region. Authorities have reiterated their zero-tolerance stance on crimes involving minors and vowed to dismantle the criminal syndicates behind the exploitation of vulnerable children.
