Christopher Aseka, the MP for Kwhisero Constituency in Kakamega County, is a man on a moral mission and this time, he is not mincing his words.
In a fiery address during a public engagement held in Khwisero, Aseka called out what he termed as “a rising moral rot” where older men and women with deep pockets are luring school-going boys and girls into transactional sex.
The MP declared an all-out war on adults preying on minors, warning that if it persists, he will push for tougher legislation in Parliament to shield the youth in his constituency.
“Our boys and girls are not hunting grounds for ageing predators who think their wealth gives them access to young bodies. If this continues, I will take this matter to Parliament and champion laws that will specifically protect young people from such exploitation. We cannot sit back and watch the future of Khwisero destroyed in the name of pleasure,” he said.
Primary school
Aseka’s remarks come amid growing concern over a silent crisis in parts of the Western region where transactional sex between older people and children or teenagers is increasingly being normalised, often under the veil of poverty, neglect, or misplaced peer pressure.
According to Aseka, many of the perpetrators are “well-off locals” who use their influence and money to seduce young people into sexual relationships, some of which begin as early as primary school.
He lamented that flashy lifestyles are being dangled before vulnerable teenagers, especially during school holidays.
“These are the same people we expect to lead by example, yet they are destroying our sons and daughters. You find an elderly man luring a 16-year-old girl with transport money, food, or gifts. Or a woman entertaining a schoolboy with expensive treats. It is shameful,” he lamented.
He added that he is working with law enforcement officers and local administrators to crack down on such behaviour.
“Be warned. If you are an adult engaging with a minor in Khwisero, your days are numbered,” he warned.
“I want to tell men that we have a lot of mature women in Khwisero. If you walk from your home to the market you will not fail to meet a woman of your age and type. Same to women. We have many men and women who are single and seriously need someone. Why can’t our women and men go for each other?” he posed.
This is not the first time the legislator has raised alarm about unconventional and dangerous sexual relationships in the region.
Weeks ago, Aseka stunned the public when he claimed that some women in Khwisero were engaging in sex with their fathers-in-law, largely due to the long-term absence of their husbands, who leave for cities and rarely return.
“Women are lonely and desperate. The husbands vanish to cities like Nairobi and Mombasa for years. In their absence, some women are now turning to their husbands’ fathers for comfort. It’s alarming,” he had said at a different forum.
Toxic mix
He linked the situation to a spike in HIV infections in the area, warning that both social and health fabrics were being ripped apart.
“The risk of sexually transmitted infections is high. Morally, this is disturbing. Socially, it is breaking families. We must address the root causes, starting with economic empowerment and family values,” Aseka had stated.
He added that a toxic mix of poverty, social breakdown, and poor parenting is driving these worrying trends.
“In many rural communities, there’s little parental guidance. When you combine that with economic hardships, teenagers become easy targets for adults who flash money,” said Aseka.
Instill discipline
He also added that early exposure to adult content on phones, lack of sex education, and peer influence have worsened the situation.
“Girls want phones and wigs. Boys want sneakers and status. So when an older person offers them these things in exchange for sex, many fall into the trap.”
Aseka insisted that it’s time for parents, religious leaders, and village elders to reclaim their roles in mentoring the young and instilling discipline.
“We cannot rely on the police alone. The home is the first defence line. Mothers and fathers must monitor their children’s movement, the company they keep, and their behaviour,” he said.
The MP was speaking during the official handover of a new storey building with classrooms at a local school in Khwisero.
While he lauded the infrastructure development, he warned that quality education will remain a mirage if learners are being derailed by sexual exploitation.
“We can build all the classrooms we want, but if our children are being lured away into sexual relationships with adults, all that investment will go to waste,” he said.
He challenged school heads to report such cases immediately and urged chiefs to be vigilant.
“The chiefs and their assistants must not look the other way when these things are happening. Arrests must be made. Charges must be pressed. Let’s protect our children,” he emphasised.
For now, the MP says he is ready to stand alone if need be.
“I don’t care how big you are or how powerful you are, I will speak the truth. If we protect our youth, we protect the future,” he said.