BBC defends Africa Eye documentary on Kenya's child-sex commerce after 'hoax' claims

[ad_1] Anita Nkonge BBC Information in Nairobi

<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) informed undercover investigators how they uncovered youngsters to prostitution in Maai Mahiu - a trucking hub

The BBC has defended its investigation into youngster sexual exploitation in Kenya, after the federal government described it as a "hoax".

Talking in parliament on Wednesday, Inside Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, described the documentary as "faux as a result of the individuals who had been interviewed weren't underage".

Mr Murkomen added that the victims interviewed by BBC Africa Eye had been "posing as youngsters".

The BBC says the documentary was clear that these interviewed had been adults recounting "experiences of abuse that occurred once they had been underage".

The broadcaster added that the Africa Eye investigation was "an vital piece of public curiosity journalism".

Mr Murkomen additionally alleged that the BBC had promised "monetary reward" to contributors.

The assertion from the broadcaster careworn that the victims had been provided no monetary incentive to share their story.

"For readability, not one of the contributors featured on this movie had been paid, provided fee or 'coached' in any means."

The assertion added that the BBC had handed over proof from the investigation to Kenyan police in March this yr.

The BBC adopted up on quite a few events to make sure youngsters in danger could be protected. Footage of two ladies uncovered was proven to authorities in April.

BBC had been informed by the police that motion could be taken, significantly to rescue youngsters.

In Mr Murkomen's speech in parliament, he defended the Kenyan authorities's report on defending youngsters, saying it took instances of trafficking of minors "significantly".

There was additionally criticism from the Speaker of the Nationwide Meeting Moses Wetang'ula, who mentioned the intention of the documentary was to "besmirch" Kenya.

The BBC investigation, which was revealed on 4 August and has to this point acquired a couple of million views on YouTube, particulars instances of underage women as younger as 13 who had been being trafficked for intercourse within the transit city of Maai Mahiu in Kenya's Rift Valley.

Two completely different ladies had been proven admitting to knowingly and illegally trafficking underage women for intercourse.

The BBC's footage caught a girl, who calls herself Nyambura, laughing as she says: "They're nonetheless youngsters, so it is easy to govern them by simply handing them sweets.

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

The movie recognized the perpetrators of the crimes in opposition to youngsters in addition to victims who had been in want of pressing help.

Following the documentary, the Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions informed the Directorate of Felony Investigations to research the matter.

The BBC famous with concern that the survivors of the abuse who contributed to the movie had been interviewed at size by investigators from the Kenya Directorate of Felony Investigations with out authorized illustration.

The BBC confirmed that not one of the survivors interviewed had been concerned within the undercover investigation itself.

The 2 ladies uncovered haven't been apprehended. Mr Murkomen mentioned they'd not been discovered.

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 Pictures/BBC [ad_2] Source link