Police have pinpointed 200 locations in Mombasa suspected of involvement in the recruitment of children for online pornography video streaming, according to recent reports.
Detectives have disclosed to Media the existence of a network of traffickers exploiting children to stream videos to both local and international audiences.
These investigations coincide with heightened scrutiny on several social media platforms for allowing the dissemination of explicit content.
Although the specific areas targeted by law enforcement remain undisclosed, past instances of human trafficking and child pornography have been documented in Bamburi, Nyali, and Mtwapa.
According to a detective from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, children are lured into the network and compensated with Sh6,000 per week.
The recruiters leverage cryptocurrency to convert tokens earned by the children through online streaming into real currency.
To accrue tokens, individuals create accounts in their names, which are then utilized to stream videos to registered clients on specific websites.
Pastor Patrick Muchiri of The Bible Way Ministries in Mtwapa highlighted the vulnerability of young people in desperate search of employment, noting numerous reports received on the matter.
“We have received many reports on this matter. Some people approach families in financial difficulties and promise to take care of their children,” he stated, adding that instead of receiving promised education, children are subjected to sexual exploitation.
The severity of the situation was underscored by the recent arrest of two women on charges of human trafficking.
The arrest followed the discovery of two children in an apartment linked to one of the suspects. While one of the accused, Ms. Caren Okello, pleaded guilty to most of the seven counts brought against her, the other, Ms. Flora Osendi, denied the charges.
The revelation of such extensive exploitation highlights the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat child trafficking and protect vulnerable youth from falling prey to criminal networks.
Law enforcement agencies and community organizations must work collaboratively to disrupt these operations and safeguard the well-being of children at risk.
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