This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, Lamu County in Kenya has been grappling with a surge in child exploitation cases. The situation has become so dire that stakeholders are sounding the alarm, calling for urgent action to protect vulnerable children.
According to reports by World Vision Kenya, 18 early child pregnancies have been reported in Lamu's Hindi division alone since schools shut down due to the pandemic. This alarming trend has sparked fears that the global health crisis may reverse the gains made in stemming child prostitution, exploitation, and rising incest cases in the area.
Lamu County Health CEC Dr. Ann Gathoni has expressed concern over the spike in child exploitation cases, citing a significant increase in numbers across all wards in 2020 compared to 2019. The situation has become so critical that Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia has issued stern warnings to would-be perpetrators and predators, urging security officials to be tough on child sexual exploitation cases.
World Vision Lamu area Manager Ndaru Mkoba revealed that the situation is especially rife among vulnerable families bearing the socioeconomic brunt of joblessness and poverty. 'Of growing concern is the issue and increasing number of children being exploited by their own parents or guardians who pimp their daughters out to paedophiles in return for cash or favors,' Mkoba said.
Ilham Athman, a Community Health Extension worker based in Hindi, echoed Mkoba's sentiments, stating that tough sentencing, better community policing through the Nyumba Kumi initiative, and affirmative action programs such as access to grants for youth, women, and business groups are steps towards uplifting and shielding vulnerable communities against exploitation by sex predators.
Lamu Deputy Governor AbdulHakim Aboud has called for a multi-stakeholder approach in tackling child exploitation and abuse cases in the county. 'Although the situation is dire, there is hope especially with different stakeholders both from the political side and the administrative side to institute measures by way of a working group to provide a strong forefront in the push to rid the county and especially Hindi division off the profile of being a child prostitution prone area,' Aboud said.
