Sex workers should not be criminalized, lobby groups advocating for the rights of sex workers in Mombasa County have said. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
The lobbyists has faulted the government on claims of criminalising sex work throughout the country.
Speaking to journalists in Mombasa Nkoko Iju Africa Executive director Maryline Laini said it is ironical that the same government criminalising sex work is the same government charging taxes to all Kenyans.
“There is a general public perception that sex work is a crime but as we see it, it is is not and the government should stop associating this trade with crime. Although we are not pushing it for legalization but as a lobby group we are insisting that it is not a crime,” said Ms Laini.
The director said that sex workers are entitled to equality before the law urging them to adhere to the Covid-19 health protocols.
Nkoko Iju Africa outreach officer, Everlyne Nabwire said most of the sex workers who have been evicted at Bombolulu in the surbub of Mombasa city are between the ages of 24 to 50 years.
“Evicted sex workers have become a burden to their guardians due to the economic strain caused by the coronavirus pandemic,” Ms Nabwire said.
Early this week, the lobby donated relief food to the forcefully evicted sex workers to last the evicted families for the next 30 days.
The foodstuffs include maize flour, sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour and soap.
Earlier, the director expressed fear after receiving what she termed as ‘threats’ from a senior administrator on claims of advocating for the rights if sex workers.
“An administrator has vowed to close down organisations championing for the rights of sex workers. He at one time threatened me and I have never found peace since then,”Ms Laini said.
She added that the local administrator while speaking during a public gathering had ordered for the closure of all guests houses located in residential areas.
“There are no clients anymore. Crime in the area has gone up,” she noted.
She added that the sex workers were left out at the Covid-19 emergency relief food by the county government.
“No sex worker received relief food from the county government. They only depended on the organization for their livelihood,” she added.
