Eight teenage girls found taking nude photos in public arrested

Some of the teenagers who were arrested on Saturday April 30, 2016 at Victoria Park in Kisumu while taking nude photos. (Photo: Kevine Omollo/Standard) 

Kisumu: Police are holding eight teenage girls and a man who were found taking nude photos in a public park.

Residents said the teenagers aged between 14 and 17 had become a nuisance at Victoria Park, prompting them to alert police, who took them to Central Police Station. The locals added that the girls entered the park on Saturday afternoon and proceeded to one corner, where they started undressing and taking pictures.

The secondary school girls are said to have been lured into the sex business by a man believed to be using the pictures to feed a pornographic Internet site. The man, who was their instructor, could be heard telling them not to fear the public at the scene but concentrate on ‘what brought them there’.

Sources said the site was being used for sex trade into which young girls in the area were being lured.

“There are famous people who have been using Victoria Park as their trading point, where they bring young girls and rich men come for them at a fee. It is the same cartel now going digital by taking pictures of the girls and posting them on their website to extend the scope of their business,” said a source, who sought anonymity.

Unpleasing postures

Witnesses said they tried to intervene by convincing the instructor to move to another venue as the kind of poses the girls were striking were not suitable for a public forum, given that the girls were also underage.

“At first, we thought the girls were coming to the park to enjoy the ambiance but when they started undressing to take photos in bikinis, some postures were not pleasing at all,” said a local, Adede Owala.

He added: “We got more surprised when after taking a number of photos, their instructor told them they were now getting to the most important stage of taking photos fully naked. At that point, we had to call in the police.”

Bernard Nyakio, who was also at the scene, said some people who were at the park were forced to leave as they were not comfortable with the scene.

“As a man, I have feelings and it was not comfortable withstanding the temptation, especially when they were exposing their bare chests as they changed clothes in front of us,” said Nyakio.

Counselling sessions

Police, however, blocked the media from interviewing the girls, saying they were protecting their identity. They also kept secret the identities of the girls’ parents and guardians.

Area OCPD Christopher Mshimba confirmed the incident, saying police had asked the girls’ parents to pick them at the station.

“The girls are underage and we are not going to hold them responsible. We have called their parents to come for them and take them through counselling. We are, however, investigating the man over the sex trade allegations and will take necessary action after we are done with investigations,” said Mr Mshimba.

However, he urged parents to be watchful over their children during school holidays, adding that negative exposure is likely to influence children into evil acts.

County Children Officer Charles Ondogo regretted the incident, saying the children and their parents would have to record statements to aid investigations. “The act was a gross violation of the children’s rights and those found culpable have to answer to charges as outlined in law,” said Mr Ondogo.

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