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Commercial sex workers drawn from Busia County have urged the government to decriminalize their operations and allow them work freely without harassment.
Speaking Saturday when they marked the International Sex Worker Rights Day, the call girls said their work is just like any others jobs and should be legalized.
The team was led by Busia Survivors programme manager Caroline Kemunto during a cleaning exercise at Busia County Referral Hospital compound and wards. They had earlier held a peaceful procession in Busia town.
They donned orange T-shirts with words ‘giving back to the society’ printed on them.
Addressing the press, Ms Kemunto decried harassment of sex workers by police, assault, theft and sometimes refusal by clients to pay for the services.
“This is just a job like any other. We want it decriminalised and anybody who wishes to practice be allowed to do so without conditions. We have also encouraged our members to display high level of professionalism towards clients,” Ms Kemunto said.
“When we started this organisation in 1999, HIV prevalence rate was 28 per cent but at the moment it has reduced to about six per cent. We have achieved this through sensitisation of our members on how to use condoms," she said.
Bernard Wabwire alias Mama Africa, a male sex worker said he loves his job and people should stop treating them as outcasts.
“This job puts food on my table at the end of the day and it pays well. We appeal to the National Government and County Government of Busia to protect us from harassment meted on us by police and clients who steal from us,” said the father of two.
“Our female counterparts are not stigmatised like us. There are many outside there who want to join the movement but fear how the society will look at them.”
Comments
Abatto,iwas under the impression MEN RULE.What you are sayingbis that feminists have such abig influence to shape the future families.And while they are effecting this change where are the men?
Oh No! We are laboratories of foreign cultures and allowing every decadent foreign culture ( corruption, rape, murder, lying, insatiable greed, prostitution, islam, homosexuality, christianity, foreign languages, incest, name calling, put downs, stealing, arrogance, and many more others) to be part of our daily normal living shows how morally bankrupt we are.
Our beautiful Kenyan women should be integrated into the society by learning appropriate skills that will make them earn a descent living that will bring honor to themselves and their immediate families.
Imara,in theory it sounds good.give them skills and they will stop prostituting.yes some will,but some will not for reasons ranging from using men ,to liking what they do.And easy money.Actually the solution is simple.make men stop buying sex and these women will find asubstitute.hopefully one sanctioned by society.
That Mama Africa,the male sex worker,is he servicing gay men or women,I wonder?
Come to think of it, why should it not be decriminalized?Yes its ajob like any other.Just like a typist,or boxer sells her/his hands for a living.Yes they provide intertainment to especially men.
This industry is actually driven by men and yet they hardly get a bad wrap.Its just two people engaging in a commercial transaction,and the hope is that they are adults and freely doing doing the buying and selling without cohersion.
We know that prostitution in Kenya or any other part of the world is not going away. So why not legalize it,tax,and monitor the workers,to makes sure they are safe,and STD free.In the long run this move will be better for society.
Of course I would like to see a society where by one man sticks to one wife,or wives,and not wonder around like a wild dog,wanting to poke any female he can afford-Basically term their libido.But till then, lets offer these men a safer"outlet",and keep their servers safe.These women are not asking much.They are part of our society.Let's offer a safe work place for them.
Where are the men who patronize them? They should be out there supporting their servers,while they wait for the self righteous moralizing Mutua to attack them.
Ndugu Maxiley:
From your many posts that you have written, I have come to see you searching for long term solutions (cause and effect) rather than simple solutions such as name calling and put downs.
If a special unit would be formed which targeted the men who solicit sex from women, we would probably cut down the number of "women selling their bodies" in order to make a living into less than a half.
I therefore ask our members of parliament to set aside some money that will make it possible to employ special police units dealing with "casual sex offenders" and men who pay money to obtain commercial sex from women or men. This unit will be identified as the "moral police force."
Good idea Imara.If Iam not wrong avariation of your idea has been implemented in some European countries.I forget which ones.
Yes to stamp out prostitution, one has to find out why it happens.Some say it exists because of the restrictions put on sex,such us you have to marry; that is men got to prostitutes for sex without restrictions.I will let social scientists figure such stuff.
What I can tell you is that, its tough to stop men from buying sex.But it can be done by tough laws,and changing their views on morals regarding prostitution.I say men because men are the drivers.They are the ones shelling out cash.
Iam not an expert,but there has to be apretty good reason why many societies abhor prostitution.And socities tend to frown upon what is not within the mores or norms of that society.
Hey I have heard that prostitutes where glorified at one time in history.
I have wondered if King Solomon who is touted as the wisest guy was on to something ,when he married 700 wives.With those many who needs a hooker?
No. The feminist movement is destroying the universe. We’ll continue to see destruction of family structure and high immortality and diseases if you want these.