At dusk, Kisii Town erupts into a
frenzied bustle of human activity in
the thriving 24-hour economy.
The town is an economic giant in
Nyanza region and is vibrant at night
with the tens of fully packed clubs.
Governor James Ongwae has said his
government has enabled a 24-hour
economy, by putting up streetlights
that have improved security and aided
the thriving of businesses.
The flipside however is that the town
is grappling with a swelling number of
underage commercial sex workers,
girls and boys.
A walk down the streets as early as
9pm tells it all.
PROSTITUTION
During school holidays, students
throng entertainment spots with
some having sex afterwards.
“My parents would be shocked if they
knew I rarely sleep in my room,” says
a girl identified as Moraa.
She fears that an interview with her
could expose her penchant for night
life.
She says besides getting
entertainment, she is out to eke out a
living by selling her body.
Moraa is not alone. Skimpily dressed
underage girls swarm the streets at
night hoping to catch the attention of
men. The girls nag male passers-by,
even pulling them to their side.
Most have bleached their skin,
believing it will make them more
attractive.
The girls often have their way. They
have perfected the art of wooing their
clients by exposing their bodies.
“I started this trade when I was about
17-years-old. I was a Form Two
student in a secondary school near
Kisii town. I am now 25 and although
I sometimes find myself regretting
joining the trade, the earnings keep
me going,” says Atieno.
She lives in the affluent Milimani
where she and three colleagues share
a one bedroom apartment. She long
fell out with her parents.
“Sweerie, what about tonight? Leave
that woman you are walking with and
come with me,” she calls out to a man
walking by with a female friend.
SPENDING MONEY
She attempts to pull the man without
a care in the world. She is now a
veteran and even helps newcomers,
mostly school dropouts and university
students.
The high number of universities in the
region complicates it all. Kisii County
education board chairman Henry
Onderi says: “Underage boys are also
involved. Secondary school boys are
gambling addicts and have a lot of
money. They drown in alcohol and
commercial sex workers.”
A boda boda rider says during school
holidays, the boys help the riders and
earn some cash and later “spend as
little as Sh20 on commercial sex
workers”.
A report released last year indicates
that approximately 55 per cent of
people infected with HIV and Aids in
the county had their first sexual
encounter before the age of 15.
Some of the boys during holidays
relieve boda boda riders in what is
commonly known as “squads”.
In the evening after making several
trips, they look for ways of spending
their earnings
frenzied bustle of human activity in
the thriving 24-hour economy.
The town is an economic giant in
Nyanza region and is vibrant at night
with the tens of fully packed clubs.
Governor James Ongwae has said his
government has enabled a 24-hour
economy, by putting up streetlights
that have improved security and aided
the thriving of businesses.
The flipside however is that the town
is grappling with a swelling number of
underage commercial sex workers,
girls and boys.
A walk down the streets as early as
9pm tells it all.
PROSTITUTION
During school holidays, students
throng entertainment spots with
some having sex afterwards.
“My parents would be shocked if they
knew I rarely sleep in my room,” says
a girl identified as Moraa.
She fears that an interview with her
could expose her penchant for night
life.
She says besides getting
entertainment, she is out to eke out a
living by selling her body.
Moraa is not alone. Skimpily dressed
underage girls swarm the streets at
night hoping to catch the attention of
men. The girls nag male passers-by,
even pulling them to their side.
Most have bleached their skin,
believing it will make them more
attractive.
The girls often have their way. They
have perfected the art of wooing their
clients by exposing their bodies.
“I started this trade when I was about
17-years-old. I was a Form Two
student in a secondary school near
Kisii town. I am now 25 and although
I sometimes find myself regretting
joining the trade, the earnings keep
me going,” says Atieno.
She lives in the affluent Milimani
where she and three colleagues share
a one bedroom apartment. She long
fell out with her parents.
“Sweerie, what about tonight? Leave
that woman you are walking with and
come with me,” she calls out to a man
walking by with a female friend.
SPENDING MONEY
She attempts to pull the man without
a care in the world. She is now a
veteran and even helps newcomers,
mostly school dropouts and university
students.
The high number of universities in the
region complicates it all. Kisii County
education board chairman Henry
Onderi says: “Underage boys are also
involved. Secondary school boys are
gambling addicts and have a lot of
money. They drown in alcohol and
commercial sex workers.”
A boda boda rider says during school
holidays, the boys help the riders and
earn some cash and later “spend as
little as Sh20 on commercial sex
workers”.
A report released last year indicates
that approximately 55 per cent of
people infected with HIV and Aids in
the county had their first sexual
encounter before the age of 15.
Some of the boys during holidays
relieve boda boda riders in what is
commonly known as “squads”.
In the evening after making several
trips, they look for ways of spending
their earnings
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