My husband left me, with a small daughter and my friend introduced me to sex work. In Eldoret, police and county inspectors harassed me, and I was arrested many times. The bribe was between KSh2,000 and KSh3,000 (US$20-30). If you didn’t have it, they would take you to court. I left Eldoret because my family is there, and l didn’t want to bring them shame. I haven’t been arrested in Mombasa yet because I pay KSh100 (US$1) everyday as a protection fee. The act of selling sex for reward is not an offence, but sex workers are harassed under vaguely defined municipal by-laws that prohibit “loitering for the purpose of prostitution” (soliciting).
Credits: © Boniface Mwangi/OSF
Country: Kenya
Bridgette Atieno
Theme:
Petty Offences
Human Rights
Use of Public Spaces
Petty Offences
Human Rights
Use of Public Spaces
People Groups:
People experiencing Poverty
Sex Workers
Women and Girls
People experiencing Poverty
Sex Workers
Women and Girls