- A new investigation links Kenya to abusive child discipline camps.
- Children from Finland, Sweden, and other countries are sent secretly.
- Camps claim to offer guidance, but reports show serious mistreatment.
- Victims describe violence, isolation, and denied contact with families.
Kenya has been named as one of the countries hosting secret discipline camps where children from Europe are taken for what parents are told is rehabilitation. The findings come from a detailed investigation by Finland’s public broadcaster, Yle.
The report shows that some children, mainly from Somali families living in Europe, are sent without their consent to camps in Kenya and Somalia.
Yle journalist Wali Hashi accessed the camps by pretending to be a concerned parent looking for strict discipline for his child. Using this cover, he secretly filmed inside several institutions operating in both Kenya and Somalia.
During his visit to a camp in Kenya, Hashi met a teenage boy who had been brought from Stockholm. Camp officials also confirmed that children from Finland had previously been held there.
Parents are often told these centres offer moral or religious correction. However, video footage and witness accounts paint a different picture. Children were seen chained to beds, beaten with hard objects, and punished by being denied food.
Former detainees said the abuse usually started soon after parents left, with staff using fear and violence to force obedience and religious practices.
One Finnish national recalled being sent to Kenya at just 12 years old. He said he lived through years of physical and mental suffering.
“They beat us with wooden sticks until they broke, then used water pipes,” he said, adding that punishments were given without reason or explanation.
The investigation found that parents are often pressured by members of the diaspora community. They are told that sending children to Kenya can fix issues like skipping school, small crimes, or adopting Western habits.
This practice is known as dhaqan celis, meaning a return to culture. However, the report shows it has turned into a money-making system built on fear and misinformation.
Families reportedly pay hundreds of euros every month. In local terms, this is a large amount, creating strong financial reasons for the camps to continue operating despite serious claims of abuse.
Kenya has drawn global attention after victims received help from foreign embassies while in the country. Diplomats from countries such as Norway and Denmark said they have handled cases involving deeply traumatised youths who escaped or were rescued.
Human rights groups warn that these camps raise major child safety and legal concerns. They are urging Kenyan authorities to closely examine institutions claiming to offer discipline or religious training to ensure children’s rights are protected.
The investigation has renewed calls for strict oversight to stop abuse hidden behind culture or faith.
