Nakuru’s sex workers form group to address their grievances

Nakuru Town has more than 4,000 commercial sex workers, who operate day and night mostly along Kanu Street, Baringo Road and Gusii Road.

They say they have a variety of clients, including MPs, MCAs, bankers, journalists and even pastors!

In the recent past, the sex workers, through an advocacy group called Smart Ladies, have been lobbying for a review of sections of the law that criminalise prostitution.

The group brings together those providing their services in the town. Ms Daisy Achieng, their spokesman, says they formed the group to help them address their challenges, including legal issues.

“Smart Ladies is the umbrella organisation which looks into the welfare of commercial sex workers, including training, advocacy and handling emerging legal issues. It basically deals with the all-round welfare of the commercial sex workers,” she explained.

BRUTAL MURDERS

The group was mooted after a number of them were brutally murdered under unclear circumstances while on “duty”. Many others have been assaulted by their clients.

At least 10 sex workers in the town have been killed in a span of about five months.

The sex workers say it has been difficult to get their grievances addressed because of society's and the authorities' negative perception about what they do for a living, leaving victims of various forms of abuses suffering.

“I have been doing the job for 14 years and we used to face a number of challenges including killings. We used to get confused when we found one of us killed and dumped somewhere as we didn’t know who to face,” she said.

Through the group, they now have secured lawyers who handle their cases whenever they have legal matters to deal with.

They are also working with hotel owners to ensure that they are safe as they carry on with their business.

“If one of us is killed in your hotel room, we file a case with the hotel owner. We are their customers and they are too,” she said.

Ms Faith Omaria, a member of the advocacy group, says although the group was formed much earlier, it had not been able to help its members as they had little knowledge about its importance, until recently.

After attending a number of workshops, members of the group now feel they have the tools to protect themselves from exploitation and the risks that come with their work.

TABLE BANKING

The group is also embracing table banking as a way of helping its members to take better control of their lives and claim their rights, said Ms Omari.

The sex workers say it is crucial that the government decriminalise commercial sex work because it is not clearly stipulated in the Constitution.

“There is a need to eliminate the sections that criminalise commercial sex work because we also contribute to the economy as taxpayers,” argued Ms Omari.

She said most sex workers have been killed through skinning, suffocation and strangling by their clients.