A new report has shed light on the disturbing increase in online sexual exploitation and abuse of children in Kenya.
The report, jointly released by ChildFund International Africa Region and the Africa Child Policy Forum (ACPF), identifies Kenya as a hotspot for the sexual abuse of children aged 12 to 17.
The findings reveal that up to 13% of Kenyan children in this age group have been threatened or blackmailed into engaging in sexual activities online.
The statistics unravel the growing entrenchment of this vice, driven by the increasing accessibility of technology and the internet.
Unsolicited Online Requests
The study also surveyed other African countries, with approximately 20% of children under 17 having received unsolicited online requests to discuss sex or sexual acts.
“The widespread belief that online crimes are not ‘real’ crimes has fostered an environment of virtual lawlessness.
Africa is facing a rapidly escalating issue, and the evidence suggests that the continent may be the next frontier for online sexual predators,” said Dr. Joan Nyanyuki, Executive Director of ACPF.
Although comprehensive data on the scale of online child sexual exploitation across Africa is lacking, one survey found that over 60% of unidentified victims were young children, with 65% being girls.
Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director at ChildFund, pointed to inadequate laws and services, including weak technology-based surveillance and underdeveloped digital forensics capacity, as factors creating a fertile ground for potential sex offenders.
“The critical question for African nations is whether they are adequately prepared to provide robust protection and safeguarding for children online,” Ngugi said.
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The report’s findings, presented in three new Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (OSEAC) policy briefs, also reveal troubling statistics from Ethiopia and Mozambique, where up to a third of children aged 12-17 shared personal information with strangers online.
In South Africa, 19% of children aged 9-17, and in Uganda, 21% of those aged 15-17, received unwanted online requests to discuss sex or sexual acts.
In Kenya and Mozambique, 13% of 12-17-year-olds reported being threatened or blackmailed into engaging in sexual activities online.
Face-to-Face Meeting With Children
The study also found that on average, 7% of children shared sexualized images of themselves online. Alarmingly, one-third of South African children aged 9-17 and over a quarter of those aged 12-17 in Mozambique reported meeting someone face-to-face after an online interaction.
“The impact of sexual abuse and exploitation on children—whether physical or online—is devastating.
Children suffer severe physical, psychological, and social harm. Victims of online child sexual exploitation and abuse often experience anxiety, guilt, shame, loss of self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and depression,” said Dr. Nyanyuki.
The policy briefs also explore the various types of OSEAC perpetrators and the channels they use to commit their crimes.
“However, Africa’s rapidly growing number of internet users and the generally lawless digital space make it easier for criminals to commit these acts with little fear of detection or prosecution. We call on technology companies to take decisive action in detecting, reporting, and swiftly removing child sexual abuse materials from their platforms,” added Ngugi.
The report identifies multiple criminal pathways to OSEAC in Africa, including the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, online grooming, sexting, sextortion, revenge pornography, commercial sexual exploitation, online child prostitution, and the live streaming of sexual abuse.
“Across Africa, various policy measures have been designed and implemented to strengthen child protection systems and enhance online safety for children,” Ngugi noted. “However, progress is still hindered by limited evidence, a lack of effective regulations, and inadequate technological capabilities.”
