Kenya to shut child-sex hotels

2007-06-29 10:54

Nairobi - The Kenyan government will shut hotels that promote child sexual exploitation by foreign and local visitors, a practice widespread in the country's coastal region, reports said on Friday.

"The government will not hesitate to remove licences of hotels found to engage in the vice," said Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua.

Addressing hoteliers in the coastal city of Mombasa late on Thursday, Karua urged the public to report suspects as the government prepared a bill that would tighten the noose around offenders, the Standard newspaper reported.

Up to 30% of Kenyan girls aged between 12 and 18 in the coastal region engage in sex tourism, a practice that contributes to the spread of HIV/Aids, according a survey by UN Children Fund (Unicef).

In the survey, released in December, Italy topped the offenders' list with 18% followed by Germany at 14% and Switzerland at 12%, while local visitors accounted for more than 41%.

Tourism is Kenya's chief foreign exchange earner. Last year, it earned the country 56.2 billion shillings up from 48.9 shillings in 2005.

- AFP