BBC defends child sex trade expose after Murkomen's remark
National
By
Mike Kihaki
| Aug 14, 2025
The BBC has defended its documentary Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade, after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed it as a “hoax” yesterday.
In a statement Thursday, the broadcaster rejected Murkomen’s allegations, insisting the documentary was a work of public interest journalism that followed ethical and professional standards.
BBC also expressed concern that survivors featured in the film were questioned by police without legal representation.
“We note with concern that following the broadcast of the film, survivors of childhood sexual abuse who contributed to the film were interviewed at length by investigators from the Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations without the presence of legal representation,” the statement read.
The film, produced by BBC Africa Eye and released on August 4, uncovers harrowing accounts of sex trafficking involving underage girls in Maai Mahiu, a town on the Nairobi–Naivasha highway.
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Girls as young as 13 are drawn into prostitution involving truck drivers and local patrons. Survivors spoke of manipulation, coercion and poverty that trapped them in the trade.
Murkomen claimed the BBC relied on falsified accounts, saying some girls lied about their age to secure “promised sponsorship”, and alleging that the documentary aimed at tarnishing the country’s image.
“Our investigations have established that the BBC team primarily sought underage girls involved in sex work. However, some of the girls falsified their age to qualify for the promised sponsorship by the BBC team. No arrests have been made so far, but investigations are ongoing, including tracing the witnesses and analysing financial records and call data to link these parties,” said the CS.
He warned that police would act against journalists “exploiting vulnerable communities.”
The documentary has prompted investigations by the National Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which ordered findings within seven days.
But, the BBC said none of the contributors were paid or coached, and that it shared evidence with police in March this year, identifying perpetrators and victims in need of help.
BBC’s child sex trafficking documentary was FAKE. ~CS Murkomen. pic.twitter.com/h5QRZLslKR — The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) August 14, 2025