BBC Africa Eye's secret filming exposes the 'madams' of Maai Mahiu

[ad_1] Njeri Mwangi BBC Africa Eye in Maai Mahiu

Tamasin Ford BBC Africa Eye

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ab4f/live/8e274a30-6e1a-11f0-89ea-4d6f9851f623.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC Two images showing the two women involved. They are screengrabs from secretly filmed footage. On the left is a woman who calls herself Nyambura, seen at night wearing a cream, woolly coat. On the right is Cheptoo, wearing a denim jacket, seen in a bar with a glass in front of her." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> BBC Nyambura (left) and Cheptoo (proper) advised undercover investigators how they uncovered kids to prostitution in Maai Mahiu - a trucking hub

A BBC Africa Eye investigation has revealed how ladies, often known as "madams", have concerned kids as younger as 13 in prostitution in Kenya.

Within the transit city of Maai Mahiu, in Kenya's Rift Valley, vans and lorries pound the streets day and night time transporting items and folks throughout the nation into Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The important thing transport hub, simply 50km (31 miles) east of the capital, Nairobi, is understood for prostitution, however additionally it is a breeding floor for baby sexual abuse.

Two undercover investigators, posing as intercourse employees desirous to learn to turn out to be madams, spent months earlier this yr infiltrating the intercourse commerce within the city.

Their secret filming reveals two totally different ladies who say they know it's unlawful after which introduce the investigators to underage women within the intercourse trade.

The BBC gave all its proof to the Kenyan police in March. The BBC believes the madams have moved location since then. The police stated the ladies and younger women we filmed couldn't be traced. Thus far there have been no arrests.

Convictions are uncommon in Kenya. For profitable prosecutions, police want testimonies from kids. Usually susceptible minors are too afraid to testify.

The BBC's grainy footage filmed on the road at nighttime confirmed one lady, who calls herself Nyambura, laughing as she says: "They're nonetheless kids, so it is easy to control them by simply handing them sweets."

Undercover filming in Maai Mahiu with the madams and a few of their younger victims

"Prostitution is a money crop in Maai Mahiu; the truckers principally gas it. And that is how we profit. It has been normalised in Maai Mahiu," she defined, including that she had one lady as younger as 13, who had already been "working" for six months.

"It turns into very dangerous once you're coping with minors. You'll be able to't simply deliver them out overtly on the town. I solely sneak them out at night time in nice secrecy," Nyambura stated.

The act of prostitution by a consenting grownup shouldn't be explicitly criminalised underneath Kenyan nationwide legislation however it's banned by many municipal by-laws. It's not banned in Maai Mahiu, which is a part of Nakuru county.

Beneath the penal code it's unlawful to dwell from the earnings of prostitution, both as a intercourse employee or third social gathering facilitating or cashing in on prostitution.

The trafficking or sale of minors underneath the age of 18 carries a jail sentence starting from 10 years to life.

When requested whether or not the shoppers put on condoms, Nyambura stated she often made certain that they had safety however the odd one didn't.

"Some kids wish to earn extra [so don't use them]. Some are compelled [not to use them]," she stated.

In one other assembly, she led the undercover investigator to a home the place three younger women sat huddled on a settee, one other on a hard-backed chair.

Nyambura then left the room, giving the investigator a possibility to talk to the women alone.

They described being repeatedly abused for intercourse, every day.

"Generally you've got intercourse with a number of folks. The shoppers pressure you to do unimaginable issues," stated one of many women.

Maai Mahiu in Nakuru county, is a key transport hub with many lorries passing by heading to international locations west of Kenya

At night time the city, with a inhabitants of some 50,000, involves life and is in an space recognized for its intercourse commerce

There are not any latest statistics on the variety of kids compelled to work in Kenya's intercourse trade. In 2012, the US State Division Nation Report on Human Rights Practices in Kenya cited an estimate of 30,000, a determine derived from the Kenyan authorities and now defunct non-governmental organisation (NGO), Eradicate Baby Prostitution in Kenya.

Different research have centered on particular areas, particularly alongside the nation's coast - recognized for its vacationer resorts. A 2022 report for the NGO World Fund to Finish Trendy Slavery discovered virtually 2,500 kids have been compelled into intercourse work in Kilifi and Kwale counties.

A second undercover investigator gained the belief of a girl who referred to as herself Cheptoo and had a number of conferences together with her.

She stated promoting younger women meant she might "earn a residing and be comfy".

"You perform this sort of enterprise in nice secrecy as a result of it's unlawful," she stated.

"If anybody says they need a younger lady, I ask them to pay me. We even have our regulars who all the time come again for them."

Cheptoo took the undercover investigator to a membership to satisfy 4 of her women. The youngest stated she was 13 years previous. The others stated they have been 15.

She opened up concerning the revenue she makes from them, saying for each 3,000 Kenyan shillings ($23; £17) the women ship, her share was 2,500 shillings ($19; £14).

At one other assembly, in a home in Maai Mahiu, Cheptoo left the undercover investigator alone with two underage women.

Considered one of them advised her she had, on common, intercourse with 5 males a day.

When requested what occurred if she refused to have intercourse with out a condom, she stated she had no selection.

"I've to [have sex without a condom]. I shall be chased away, and I've nowhere to run to. I'm an orphan."

Individuals outdoors the UK can watch right here

Kenya's intercourse trade is a posh, murky world the place each women and men are concerned in facilitating baby prostitution.

It's not recognized what number of kids are compelled into intercourse work in Maai Mahiu, however on this small city of round 50,000 folks it's simple to seek out them.

A former intercourse employee, often known as "Child Lady", now offers refuge in Maai Mahiu for women who've escaped sexual abuse.

The 61-year-old labored within the intercourse trade for 40 years - first discovering herself on the streets in her early twenties. She was pregnant and had her three younger kids together with her after fleeing her husband due to home violence.

At her picket kitchen desk in a shiny parlour on the entrance of her home, she launched the BBC to 4 younger ladies who have been all compelled into intercourse work by madams in Maai Mahiu once they have been kids.

Every lady shared comparable tales of damaged households or abuse at residence - they got here to Maai Mahiu to flee, solely to be violently abused once more.

Michelle described how, at 12 years previous, she misplaced her mother and father to HIV and was evicted on to the streets the place she met a person who gave her someplace to dwell and started sexually abusing her.

"I actually needed to pay him in form for educating me. I reached my restrict, however I had no-one," she stated.

Two years later, she was approached by a girl who turned out to be a madam in Maai Mahiu and compelled her into intercourse work.

Lilian, who's now 19, additionally misplaced her mother and father at a really younger age. She was left with an uncle who filmed her within the bathe and offered the pictures to his pals. The voyeurism quickly became rape.

"That was my worst day. I used to be 12 then."

When she escaped, she was raped once more by a truck driver who took her to Maai Mahiu. It was right here, like Michelle, the place she was approached by a girl who compelled her into intercourse work.

These younger ladies's brief lives have been fuelled by violence, neglect and abuse.

Now, housed by Child Lady, they're studying new expertise - two in a images studio and two in a magnificence salon.

In addition they help Child Lady together with her outreach work in the neighborhood.

Nakuru county has one of many highest charges of HIV an infection in Kenya, and Child Lady, supported by US help company USAID, is on a mission to coach folks concerning the dangers of unprotected intercourse.

She has an workplace at Karagita Group Well being Centre, close to Lake Naivasha, the place she works offering condoms and recommendation.

Nevertheless, with US President Donald Trump's choice to drag USAID funding, her outreach programmes are about to cease.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/41c5/live/36b56bf0-6e25-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Baby Girl, wearing a black tracksuit top, white cap and gold bead earrings, smiles as she hands out condoms on a street in Naivasha." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> As a part of her outreach work, Child Lady palms out condoms on the streets close to Lake Naivasha in Nakuru county

"From September we shall be unemployed," she advised the BBC World Service, including how anxious she was concerning the younger ladies and women who rely upon her.

"You see how susceptible these kids are. How would they survive on their very own? They're nonetheless therapeutic."

The US authorities didn't reply to feedback on this investigation concerning the possible impression of its funding cuts. USAID formally closed final month.

For now, Lilian is targeted on studying images and recovering from abuse.

"I'm not afraid any extra, as a result of Child Lady is there for me," she stated. "She helps us bury the previous."

Extra from BBC Africa Eye:

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos/BBC [ad_2] Source link