Climate summit leaves city hookers high and dry

There is a Swahili saying, ‘Mgeni njoo, mwenyeji apone’, which literally means the guest saves or benefits the host or hostess.

This was to be the case in the capital city where over 20,000 guests converged for the Africa Climate Summit. Enterprising residents had expected, that the summit would come with a windfall and booming business. 

The rare occasion was however an anti-climax for sex workers who had hoped to reap big from the conference. The hookers operating with Central Business District (CBD) were barred from plying their trade as they were not allowed near some of the high-end hotels where guests attending the summit stayed.

On the second day of the conference, some of them were dispersed by county government enforcement officers as they tried to hunt for clients around hotels. “We have been preparing for the Summit so that we can entertain visitors who want to experience the city life at night but county askaris have been ruthless on us,” one of the girls who identified herself as Lydia told The Nairobian.

Accompanying Lydia was another hooker who bitterly complained that police officers including those from the General Service Unit were deployed to stop them from hovering around big hotels and entertainment joints.

Stanley Ngara, fondly known as King of Condom disclosed that the number of sex workers within the CBD increased tremendously from the onset of the summit that brought together presidents, senior government officials, corporate gurus, experts, lobbyists and activists from all corners of the world. 

The founder of the King of Condoms initiative, which advocates for safe sex, had stocked about 400,000 condoms to be used in the CBD where most activities were centred. “The condoms were stocked in high-end bars and shops where delegates and other Kenyans have access in case they need them,” said Ngara.

Ahead of the Summit, police had warned the public that some areas where guests will be spending their time will be out of bounds. 

They included Harambee Avenue, Parliament Road, City Hall Way and around Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Central Ward Representative John Mwaniki while noting that prostitution remains illegal, said he was not aware if the county had announced any crackdown against sex workers. 

A female paralegal (name withheld) who works closely with sex workers claimed police officers and county askaris have in the recent past gone rogue.

She regretted that the hookers were not given an opportunity to entertain guests booked in city hotels since most of them had seen an opportunity to eke a living. “We have gone back to the dark days when cases of harassment were high, nowadays, they arrest the girls and demand money from them,” she said. 

“Sex workers are all over because of the hard economic times that we are all facing. My role and other lawyers is to bail them out when arrested but some cases go all the way to court,” she added. Although it is an illegal trade in Kenya, the paralegal feels it’s high time for it to be legalised. “Some ladies make good money from it, in other parts of the world it is a big trade that is legit,” she noted. 

Whenever arrested, the sex workers are normally slapped with charges such as loitering with intent, hawking, creating disturbance and urinating in public.

A recent report by Kenya Sex Workers Alliance shows that there are about 100,000 surviving on prostitution in the capital city alone.