Mombasa sex workers oppose law kicking them out of streets
Some of the commercial sex workers lined up outside their 'houses' in Changamwe waiting for clients on August 26, 2016. They have opposed the move by the Mombasa County Government to kick them out of the streets. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The chairlady of their lobby group Ms Janet Njoroge described the law as punitive and discriminatory against her group’s members as it denied them a livelihood when they had children and other dependents to cater for.
- Another member, Aisha Soo, said they had not committed any crime and did not deserve to be arrested adding that the law, if it has to be implemented, should not discriminate against them but men too, should be arrested.
Hundreds of sex workers in Mombasa have opposed new legislation passed by the county assembly last week to drive them out of the streets.
The sex workers on Monday sought help from Nyali MP Hezron Awiti, whom they asked to petition the assembly to revoke the law.
The chairwoman of their lobby group, Janet Njoroge, described the law as punitive and discriminatory against her group’s members as it denied them a livelihood when they had children and other dependents to cater for.
“We are seeking help from you, Mr Awiti. Please intervene and ask the county assembly to revoke this unfortunate legislation,” Ms Njoroge told the MP at a meeting at the Kenol Petrol Station in Nyali.
A member, Sarrah Mwende, claimed that a group of police officers usually moves around at night in five tuk tuks and private cars to invade their areas of business.
They harass, intimidate and arbitrarily arrest them, with some of the law enforcement officers asking for sexual favours in the process in order to release them.
“They ask for Sh5,000 to release us but in the event that you cannot raise it, you are asked for sex or taken to Bamburi police station, where you have to part with Sh2,000 or risk being taken to court,” she said.
Another member, Aisha Soo, said they had not committed any crime and did not deserve to be arrested, adding that the law, if it has to be implemented, should apply to men too.
Mr Awiti promised to intervene and have the legislation reversed, saying it was discriminatory against women when men were actually the key culprits.
“You are being treated like criminals but you have not done anything wrong. Is it not men who come after you at your working areas? Or is it the other way round? I don’t think so. And why then are the men spared?” he asked.
However, he asked them to form three groups by Friday after which he will lobby to get stalls at the Kongowea open air market and also open a salon for them “so that you diversify your source of income and eventually abandon the trade”.
The MP gave them Sh20,000, which he directed they should use to open bank accounts as the groups are formed. He pledged to assist them with funds from the Constituency Development Fund.
