NAIROBI, Kenya- A new international investigation has uncovered Kenya’s involvement in a hidden network of disciplinary centres where children from Europe are allegedly subjected to extreme physical and psychological abuse under the guise of rehabilitation.
The report by Finland’s public broadcaster, Yle, reveals that some Somali parents living in countries such as Finland and Sweden secretly send their children to facilities in Kenya and Somalia, often after being persuaded through community networks and online messaging platforms.
Led by journalist Wali Hashi, the investigation exposes a cross-border system that exploits parental fears, placing vulnerable young people at serious risk.
Undercover Reporting and Social Media Recruitment
Hashi gained access to several of the camps by posing as a concerned father seeking “discipline” for his son, allowing him to secretly document operations in both Kenya and Somalia.
The investigation found that some of the institutions promote their services through informal social media groups, private messaging platforms, and diaspora networks, presenting themselves as religious or moral rehabilitation centres.
At one Kenyan facility, Hashi encountered a teenage boy who had been sent from Stockholm, Sweden. Camp officials also confirmed that they had previously hosted minors from Finland.
Hidden Abuse Behind Online Promises
Despite their positive online image, video footage obtained by the journalist shows young people chained to beds, beaten with sticks and pipes, and punished through food deprivation.
Former detainees said abuse often began immediately after parents left, with staff using violence to enforce obedience and religious practices.
One Finnish victim recalled being sent to a camp in Kenya at the age of 12, where he endured years of routine beatings and emotional trauma.
“They used wooden sticks until they broke, or water pipes because those wouldn’t break,” he said.
‘Dhaqan Celis’, Profits, and Growing Global Concern
Within Somali communities, the practice is known as dhaqan celis, meaning “return to culture.” Parents are often encouraged—both offline and online—that sending children to Kenya can correct behaviours such as truancy, minor crime, or adopting Western lifestyles.
However, Yle’s investigation shows that the practice has evolved into a lucrative cross-border business.
Some families reportedly paid hundreds of euros each month, creating strong financial incentives for operators to continue running the camps despite serious allegations of abuse.
Kenya’s role has drawn growing international attention following testimonies from victims who later received assistance from foreign embassies.
Diplomatic officials from countries including Norway and Denmark confirmed encountering traumatized youths who had escaped or been rescued from such institutions while in Kenya.
Human rights groups are now urging Kenyan authorities to closely monitor institutions that promote themselves online as rehabilitation centres, warning that social media is increasingly being used to mask abusive operations.
They have called for stronger regulation to ensure no facility violates children’s rights under the guise of discipline or religious instruction.
