Sex workers leave the streets for Facebook

• University administrators stunned by Facebook page in which women claiming to be students sell sex
• To draw in their targets, users post provocative pictures on the page
• The page which was launched on July 3, 2012 has received more than 30,000 likes in a month

Juliet Anyango, 20, is willing to do anything for cash. At least that is what she says on the controversial Facebook page, “Campus Divas for Rich Men”.

Whether her profile is genuine or not is a matter of conjecture, but Juliet has got tongues wagging and fingers on the mouse liking her profile and commenting on it. By the time we went to press, she had about 1,700 comments.

Juliet, who declined an interview with the Sunday Nation, said: “I am not for that (publicity), I want money.”

And with a provocative picture, she is hopeful.

So is Neerum, who says is tired of her “broke” boyfriend, and Moraa, Njeri and tens of other alleged university students whose motto is “Money can buy us!”

Welcome to Kenya’s new online sex trade.

The Facebook page and the characters in it have been disputed by some university students and officials.

Whether they are students or not, Facebook has provided a platform for commercial sex workers to move from the streets and organise sex parties from their computers.

To draw in their targets, they post provocative pictures on the page. They claim to be students of Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Maseno University, Moi University, United States International University among other colleges.

The page’s administrator also declined an interview with the Sunday Nation and the universities gave varying responses to the stunning revelation.

Mr Dan Muchai, a communications officer at USIU said the institution was yet to verify the identities of the women claiming to be their students.

“This is a question of morality. We have rules of conduct for students. If any student is identified, appropriate action will be taken,” Mr Muchai said.

The dean of students at the University of Nairobi, Fr Dominic Wamugunda, said he could not comment as he is neither on Facebook nor aware of the issue.

The page which was launched on July 3, 2012 has received more than 30,000 likes in a month’s time.

JKUAT’s corporate communications officer Mr Araka said none of the women studies at the institution.

Moraa, who has elicited debate even on FM stations with her provocative picture, claims to be a student in JKUAT. “Get me a rich man aged 35 and above,” she says. “No strings attached. He should be ready to spoil me with his money.”

“We checked with the dean of students and there is no student in the school with such names,” Mr Araka said. Moraa has received about 1,600 comments on her profile.

The girls want men of means, including MPs.