Kenyan Commercial Sex Workers Launch Five-Year Strategic Plan

Kenyan Commercial Sex Workers Launch Five-Year Strategic Plan

A lobby for Kenyan commercial sex workers has launched a five-year strategic plan aimed at increasing its membership and fighting for their rights.

This came as the lobby, the Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA), marked its 10th anniversary on Thursday having been founded in 2010 after the first African Sex Worker conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking during the event, KESWA national coordinator Felistar Abdallah indicated that cases of violence against their members have reduced over the past decade as a result of their lobbying.

Abdallah, however, pointed out that such cases increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has adversely affected the sector due to night curfews imposed by the government to combat the spread of the disease.

While insisting that there is nothing unusual about how they earn their living, Abdallah said sex workers only seek recognition and acceptance by society.

He noted that there are half a million sex workers across the country including 174,000 in Nairobi with a majority of them being members of 75 registered affiliate groups.

The official said the umbrella body is seeking to engaging all relevant authorities for the protection of their members.

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, who attended the launch of the five-year strategic plan, called on the government to offer protection to sex workers instead of condemning are arresting them.

 

Comments

KK (not verified)     Sat, 12/19/2020 @ 12:46pm

The oldest profession in the world is still thriving. I guess as long as the demand for sex is there, hoes will always have a job. This is interesting, a hoe convention. I will not surprised if schools-colleges in Kenya start offering classes on hoe business. I understand the need to ask government protection but this whole thing is seriously sending the wrong message to young women. The numbers in the article are saddening that so many women are turning commercial sex to earn a living. To put it in perspective the ratio is 1:107 based on Kenya’s population. It’s only going to get worse.

Kipserem (not verified)     Sun, 12/20/2020 @ 04:40am

In reply to by KK (not verified)

Seriously @kk - “hoe business”??? Are you talking about agriculture? Then Kenya needs more hoes to till the land to feed the hungry! Now it’s understandable all the reasons your English teacher kicked you out of the 1st grade.

Builder (not verified)     Sat, 12/19/2020 @ 01:29pm

Uhuru Raila please provide jobs thru investment in human resources like Rwanda S. Korea etc did. Can't afford to make Kenya famous 4 prostitution. It is a turn off. God save the nation

Maxiley (not verified)     Sat, 12/19/2020 @ 02:30pm

I have heard that the oldest profession is agriculture.
Anyway,if we take prostitution as the oldest,why has society at large been relactant to embrace it?
To me,it's just a cheap way for men to get sex.Its all about men, and their lust.So if we really want to eliminate,or control prostitution,short of hanging all the Johns is to come up with a pill to kill the lust in the Johns.

Akinyi (not verified)     Sun, 12/20/2020 @ 02:04pm

In reply to by Maxiley (not verified)

Then come up with a “white pile” the size of the “blue pile” or bigger to control the urge! It will help lower the “Johns temperature” and reduce unwanted pregnancies. It will also save the life of senators who can’t zip up!

jasiri (not verified)     Sat, 12/19/2020 @ 09:13pm

What is the acceptable or unacceptable number of sex workers in a country? How comes it is a vice that is only tolerated in so called Christian countries? I am sure the bible is against the trade. Unfortunately the trade goes hand in hand with robbery, alcohol and drug abuse.

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