Governor Kihika forms task force to probe child sex trade in Mai Mahiu
The team, chaired by County Executive Committee Member for Health, Roselyne Mungai, has until September 5 to submit its findings. It will examine the depth of the vice, its causes, identify key perpetrators, and propose policy measures to eradicate the crime and prevent its recurrence.
Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika has formed a task force to investigate the prevalence of child trafficking and prostitution in Mai Mahiu, following a recent BBC exposé that laid bare the scale of the abuse.
The governor announced the move on Friday, August 8, saying the probe will also extend to other towns along major transport routes, including Salgaa, Kikopey, Total and Longonot.
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The team, chaired by County Executive Committee Member for Health, Roselyne Mungai, has until September 5 to submit its findings. It will examine the depth of the vice, its causes, identify key perpetrators, and propose policy measures to eradicate the crime and prevent its recurrence.
"I have set up a task force to investigate the prevalence of the child sex trade in Maai Mahiu and report back to me by September 5, 2025," she said.
She vowed that no one implicated in the abuse of minors, regardless of their status, will be spared.
The governor said the task force will work closely with the national government, including the National Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to ensure thorough investigations and prosecution of offenders.
“I have called on the National Police Service and the ODPP to ensure perpetrators receive the harshest punishment. They must be locked away for good,” she stated.
"I urge the community to speak out, as this is a problem that affects all of us — leaders, the church, teachers, and parents. We must not shut our eyes to the perpetration of this crime. The duty of protecting our children lies with all of us," said Kihika.
Kihika also urged members of the community to speak out against the crime, warning that silence would only allow the exploitation to persist.
Residents have been encouraged to report cases via the county’s gender-based violence hotline — 0753 481 695 — or through the website nakuru.org/gbv.
The BBC investigation revealed harrowing accounts of girls as young as 12 being trafficked and forced into commercial sex work in Mai Mahiu, sparking public outrage and demands for action.
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