Three suspects have been arrested after detectives uncovered an alleged online sexual exploitation syndicate operating from a residential house in Nairobi’s Mihang’o area, where five women were rescued after allegedly being held and forced to produce explicit online content.
The operation, conducted by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), followed intelligence-led investigations into suspected human trafficking and cyber-enabled sexual exploitation in Embakasi East Constituency.
According to the DCI, the victims had been lured with promises of well-paying jobs before allegedly being confined inside a house and coerced into producing sexual content for commercial exploitation. Detectives rescued the women from two bedrooms within the premises during the raid.
A search of the house led to the recovery of equipment and other items believed to have been used in facilitating the suspected criminal enterprise. The items were seized as evidence.
The three suspects were identified as Morine Imbaali, 43, the owner of the house and the alleged mastermind of the operation; Barbara Okoyo, 24, who investigators believe recruited the victims through fraudulent job offers; and Alfred Okelo, 30, who is suspected of maintaining the computer systems used in the operation.
The suspects are being held at Kasarani Police Station pending their arraignment. They are expected to face charges under the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act, including trafficking in persons and other related offences.
The rescued women are being placed under protective care, with authorities arranging safe accommodation, medical attention and psychosocial support as investigations continue.
The latest arrests underscore growing concern over the use of digital platforms by criminal networks to lure vulnerable job seekers into online exploitation schemes disguised as legitimate employment opportunities.
The DCI has urged Kenyans, particularly young job seekers, to verify employment offers before accepting them and to remain cautious of recruiters promising quick, high-paying jobs without proper credentials.
The agency also appealed to members of the public with information on human trafficking or related crimes to report it through its confidential reporting channels as efforts to dismantle transnational exploitation networks intensify.
