Foreigners turn Coast into sin have

LABAN WALLOGA| NATION Swidish national Christoph Clement who has been charged with inciting 11 Kenyan women into prostitution and earning from the illicit trade walks out of Shimo La Tewa Prison alongside his lawyer Francis Kadima after he secured bail, on 15th June 2013. He has been in remand for over a month.  

By GALGALO BOCHA gbocha@ke.nationmedia.com, Saturday, June 15  2013

In Summary

• The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Kilifi county deputy chairman Sheikh Ali Hussein praised the police for their efforts to stop the vice and appealed to the government to expel all foreigners involved in criminal activities.

Hospitality and the rich Swahili culture alongside the white sandy beaches of the picturesque Indian Ocean have for long made the Kenyan coast an idyllic paradise and holiday destination for thousands of local and foreign tourists.

Every year, millions of visitors flock to the coast in search of fun and relaxation. But some, especially foreigners, usually fall in love with this paradise and decide to remain – for keeps.

And so from Lunga Lunga to the border post of Kiunga there are hundreds of multi-billion- dollar homes and investments owned by foreigners, and which employ hundreds of locals. But not all these investments would fall under what is known as “clean business”.

Against the backdrop of the heavy investment and the allure of the white sandy beaches is an exclusive business community that is closed to security agencies and the prying eyes of the public.

Their unbridled impunity has seen them grab road reserves and public beaches to the exclusive islands in Malindi and Lamu (see separate story page 20) where they have erected perimeter walls to fend off fishermen or natives.

Locals have raised concern over these secluded tourist havens in their neighbourhoods and questioned the alleged underworld activities within the closed society.

Cases of sex tourism, child prostitution and production of pornographic films have recently been reported from these secluded tourist havens as the government grapples with how to handle the emerging crimes and abominations that have stunned locals.

The cases of Tenewi Island where an Italian investor denied the Lamu DC entry, the 11 women arrested for allegedly engaging in unnatural sexual acts and the Briton, Mr Ian Huthson Paul, who was recently charged with operating a strip tease night club in Mtwapa, attest to the goings-on in the secluded residences.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake Mtwapa branch secretary Mufida Mohammed believes the country has become a safe haven for international sex offenders and paedophiles.

“In Africa sex is a very private and sacred affair but in Mtwapa young girls are being paid to do it in public. This new culture is adopted from foreigners,” she said, adding that such people should be deported.

Entertain revellers

Ms Mufida observed that underage girls are often dehumanised by parading them naked to entertain revellers in night clubs.

Ms Ann Wangari, a woman arrested in one of the police raids, confessed that poverty had led her to the practice.

“It wasn’t my wish to strip and dance naked but I had no other means of earning an income. I tried working in a salon but they were paying me peanuts as commission,” she explained.

Miss Mwanajuma Hamis, 21, said she was forced into stripping after abusive relatives kicked her out of their home. Her father, she claimed, is serving time in prison.

“First I was too shy to strip. So I was asked to take a seat and watch others dance in the nude. I was given lots of alcohol to boost my courage and after that it became easier,” said Ms Hamis.

Nominated Senator Emma Mbura has called on Parliament to enact laws that protect Kenyans from exploitation by foreigners.

“They use our young jobless women to dance naked in order to attract customers. I urge all women in Parliament to pass the necessary laws to end this immoral business,” she said.

Ms Mbura explained that foreigners were welcome to invest in the country but they have no right to exploit Kenyans.

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Kilifi county deputy chairman Sheikh Ali Hussein praised the police for their efforts to stop the vice and appealed to the government to expel all foreigners involved in criminal activities.

“The foreigners are notorious of this dirty business. We call for their arrest and prosecution for engaging in such business,” he said.

Bishop Launce Chai of the National Council Churches of Kenya lamented that young girls including school going children are involved in the nudity business.

“What is going on in Mtwapa had never happened during Sodom Gomorrah era. We are putting on notice all foreigners and their local supporters behind live sex show running in night clubs within Mtwapa town,” he said. “In the holy book, God said such people should be stoned to death. Because of our respect to the Constitution, we have decided to restrain ourselves”.