Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has ordered a full-scale crackdown on child prostitution rings in Mai Mahiu following a damning BBC exposé that uncovered a disturbing pattern of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation involving underage girls.

In a strongly worded statement posted on her official social media platforms on Wednesday, August 7, 2025, Kihika expressed heartbreak and outrage over the report, which revealed that children, some as young as 12, are being trafficked, exploited, and abandoned in what she described as “a vicious cycle of poverty, abuse, and neglect.”

“I have watched with deep concern and heartbreak the recent BBC exposé highlighting the shocking prevalence of trafficking teenage girls for commercial sex in Mai Mahiu. The revelations are not only disturbing but also a grave indictment of our collective moral fabric and institutional vigilance,” Kihika said

As both a leader and a mother, Kihika said the situation demands more than just police action.

“This is not just a law enforcement issue; it is a moral and societal emergency,” she stated.

She called on the national government, particularly the Ministry of Interior, to act with urgency, and announced immediate local government interventions to address the crisis.

“I am urging the County Security Committee to immediately launch a coordinated crackdown on all individuals, networks, and establishments implicated in the abuse of minors. No one, regardless of their status, will be spared accountability,” she warned.

To support survivors and prevent further harm, Kihika has directed the County Departments of Children Services, Gender, and Youth Affairs to deploy emergency response teams to Mai Mahiu.

“These teams will begin immediate rescue operations, psychosocial support, and medical assistance to the affected girls,” she said.

The governor also disclosed that her administration is working closely with the Department of Education to reintegrate rescued children back into school programs, a move aimed at restoring dignity and giving the victims a second chance at life.

“Let me be clear: the exploitation of our children will not be tolerated in Nakuru County. We must restore dignity, protect the vulnerable, and hold all enablers of this evil to account,” she affirmed

Kihika called the exposé a wake-up call for society and issued a moral challenge to fellow leaders and citizens to confront the deeper issues enabling the vice.

“This is a defining moment for us as leaders, parents, and citizens. We must all rise and speak out against the moral decay that threatens the future of our children,” she said.

The BBC investigation, which has sparked national outrage, captured the harrowing realities of young girls being groomed and exploited under the shadow of poverty and impunity in the busy town along the Nairobi-Narok highway. Governor Kihika’s firm stance now puts pressure on national and local authorities to deliver swift and uncompromising justice.