Report decries child sex trade in Kenya

Child sex trade perpetrated by local tourists has spiked in Kenya despite punitive legislation and robust advocacy, said a report launched on Tuesday by a child rights organization.

The African Network for Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse (ANPPCAN), a pan-African organization based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, said in a study that child sex tourism is on the rise in Kenya due to the breakdown of social mores and lax policing.

"The blossoming domestic tourism market has contributed to a 40 percent spike in child prostitution in the country," said Aggrey Otieno, the East African Coordinator of the ANPPCAN.

Otieno regretted wealthy local tourists are luring young boys and girls with money in return for sexual favors hence jeopardizing the health and emotional well-being of the minors.

The ANPPCAN study, which was conducted in 13 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, sought to ascertain the magnitude of child sex trade and recommend strategic interventions that would eradicate the vice.

It finds that Kenyan minors' vulnerability to prostitution and drug addiction is profound despite aggressive public awareness campaigns.

"The entire society has a moral obligation to protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation. Stakeholders in tourism industry should take a firm stand against sexual abuse of minors," Otieno said.

Child sex trade has taken a new dimension due to technological advancement that has enabled predators to evade security dragnet.

The ANPPCAN study notes the profile of a typical child sexual predator in Kenya has evolved hence complicating efforts to nab them.

According to the study, the pedophiles are mostly local wealthy elite and middle classes who are luring minors with gifts in exchange for sex.

"The predators who are sexually abusing minors are mostly local men of different age groups with disposable income. They are using digital platforms to lure their victims," Otieno told Xinhua.

The East African nation is a member of a global campaign to eradicate sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry.

Director of Children Services, Noah Sanganyi, said the government has prioritized law enforcement and public awareness to revitalize action on child sex trade.

He disclosed that capacity building for law enforcement agencies has been ongoing to enhance identification and prosecution of pedophiles. Endit