Hostel owners in Thika Town have been called upon to comply with the county government's requirements on such businesses or risk having them closed.
Thika Township Ward Administrator Jessica Mukundi has also called the hostel owners to take the details of the hostels' occupants saying that a recent investigation by her office shows that many have not done so.
Mukundi says that some hostels have been operating as brothels under the pretext of students' hostels which she said will not be tolerated any time longer.
"We have been following up on some hostels which purport to house students but we realised that they are brothels where even underage girls are engaging in prostitution," said Mukundi on Friday in her office.
She said that others operate as half hostels and half brothels and exposing students staying there to immoralities, drugs and other social ills.
"Students especially those new to town life are are so vulnerable to some of these immoralities. We cannot have some other weird businesses taking place in the so-called hostels in full glare of these students. That is why we want every hostel owner to comply with every requirement laid down or we will deal with them when we begin a crackdown on non-compliant hostels soon," said Mukundi.
Parents with children especially girls studying in one of many Thika colleges and staying in hostels were asked to find out where their children were staying to ensure that they are housed at the right place.