Finnish Journalist Exposes Kenya’s Alleged Secret Disciplinary Camps
Kenya has emerged as a focal point in an international investigation into alleged secret disciplinary camps where children sent from Europe are reportedly subjected to severe abuse under the guise of rehabilitation, according to a new exposé by Finland’s public broadcaster, Yle.
The investigation, conducted by journalist Wali Hashi, alleges that some Somali parents living in Finland and Sweden secretly send their children to institutions in Kenya and Somalia, where they are subjected to physical violence, isolation, and harsh living conditions. The practice, according to the report, is often concealed from authorities in the children’s countries of residence.
Hashi gained access to the camps by posing as a concerned parent seeking “discipline” for his son. Through this undercover approach, he was able to secretly record video footage from several institutions operating in both Kenya and Somalia, some of which reportedly house minors sent from Europe.
At one such institution in Kenya, Hashi encountered a teenage boy who had been sent from Stockholm, Sweden. Camp administrators told the journalist that they had also previously hosted children from Finland and other European countries.
While the institutions are presented to parents as religious or moral rehabilitation centres, footage obtained during the investigation reportedly shows young people chained to beds, beaten with sticks and pipes, and punished through food deprivation and prolonged isolation.
Former detainees interviewed by Yle claimed that the abuse often began immediately after parents left the facilities. They alleged that camp staff used violence to enforce strict obedience and religious practices.
One Finnish citizen recounted being sent to a disciplinary camp in Kenya at the age of 12, where he said he spent several years enduring physical and psychological abuse.
“They used wooden sticks until they broke, or water pipes because those wouldn’t break,” the victim said, adding that punishments were often arbitrary and never explained.
According to the investigation, parents are frequently persuaded by members of the diaspora community that sending children to Kenya is an effective solution to behavioural concerns such as truancy, minor criminal activity, or adopting lifestyles perceived as overly Western.
The practice is commonly referred to within Somali communities as dhaqan celis, meaning “return to culture.” However, the investigation suggests the practice has evolved into a lucrative cross-border business that exploits parental fears.
At some camps, families reportedly pay hundreds of euros per month per child. In the Kenyan and Somali context, this represents a substantial income, creating financial incentives for operators to continue running the institutions despite allegations of abuse.
Kenya’s role has attracted growing international attention following testimonies from victims who were detained in similar facilities and later received assistance from foreign embassies while in the country.
Diplomatic officials based in Kenya, including representatives from Norway and Denmark, confirmed that they have encountered traumatized youths who either escaped from the camps or were rescued with diplomatic support.
“We have come across several cases involving young people who were clearly traumatized after being held in these institutions,” one diplomat told Yle, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Human rights advocates say the revelations raise serious concerns about child protection and legal oversight in Kenya. They are now calling on Kenyan authorities to investigate institutions operating under the banner of discipline or religious instruction to ensure they are not violating national laws or international conventions on children’s rights.
As the investigation continues to draw attention across Europe and Africa, pressure is mounting on governments to address the cross-border nature of the practice and strengthen safeguards to protect vulnerable children from abuse.
ALSO READ: Guinness World Records Ratifies Truphena Muthoni’s 72-Hour Tree-Hugging Marathon
Finnish Journalist Exposes Kenya’s Alleged Secret Disciplinary Camps
