MEDIA EXPOSES CHILDREN SEX TRADE IN MALINDI

Children aged between 15-16 years are being lured into prostitution in Malindi. A media expose has revealed.

The investigative report aired on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday 19^th May, shows young girls and boys seated at the beach waiting for International tourist. Hoping one of them will have sex with them for money in return. If the tourist shows signs of wanting a client, the young girls offer themselves for the service.

The victims say, Tourists play sex with them in caves and secret places along the beach. This is because hotels and lodgings are against the vice. One girl said at times her clients, who are aged between 50-80 yrs, take them to their houses. She is paid 5,000 per session and on a good month she gets clients every day.

Young Boys are also into the trade. According to 17 yrs Juma (not his real name), a massage specialist, female tourist entice them to have sexual intercourse in return for money. Since hotels do not allow children into their rooms, Juma takes his clients to caves along the beach.

According to the report by Anne Soy, Beach boys play a big role in the trade. They are the heart of the illegal business. They pose as relatives and friends but in real sense they are “pimps”, selling out minors to tourists to use them in satisfying their sexual pleasure.

Despite carrying out campaigns against premarital sex and risk awareness in schools, the number of school going children caught in the trap is increasing by the day. The report indicates children never listen to their teachers for they earn more than them. This is a situation which poses a huge challenge to the teacher when it comes to handling the children.

Speaking to BBC, Naomi Kazungu a child protection officer in Malindi said most of the youths look up to those who have gained wealth from the trade as their role models. This makes them to see education as of no importance.

“They think getting married to a white man or woman is the easiest way to make money. As those in the trade drive big cars and are living in nice houses unlike their teachers and relatives who have gone to school but are languishing in poverty.”

She adds that her office has joined efforts with hotels in fighting the trade. Something which has resulted to those involved to operate in secretive places.

Naomi also blamed parents for not being responsible. She says despite most of them knowing what their children do, they don’t take action for they get money from them.