Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has denounced a BBC Africa Eye documentary on child sex trafficking in Kenya, branding it a “hoax” and accusing its producers of tarnishing the country’s image.
The investigative film, Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade, aired on August 4, 2025, spotlighted the exploitation of underage girls in Maai Mahiu town, portraying a sex trade allegedly fueled by truck drivers and normalized in the community.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Murkomen claimed the documentary’s credibility was compromised, alleging that some interviewees falsified their ages to obtain “promised sponsorship” from the BBC team.
He said no arrests had been made so far, but police were tracing witnesses and reviewing financial records and call data linked to the production.
“Our investigations have established that the BBC team primarily sought underage girls involved in sex work. However, some of the girls falsified their age. The documentary failed to reach its intended purpose due to falsified information from several interviewees,” Murkomen stated, warning that journalists behind the exposé could face legal action.
The documentary, however, depicted harrowing accounts of girls as young as 13 being lured into the sex trade. In one scene, a woman identified as Nyambura described prostitution in Maai Mahiu as “a cash crop” sustained by truckers.
Following the broadcast, the National Police Service launched investigations into the allegations, while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to complete a probe and submit findings within seven days.
The ODPP stressed that under Article 53 of the Constitution, children are entitled to protection from abuse, exploitation, and harmful practices.
The standoff has ignited debate over both the veracity of the documentary and Kenya’s response to reports of child exploitation.
Written By Rodney Mbua
