This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
Published on June 27, 2020, commercial sex workers in Mtwapa, Kilifi are sounding the alarm over a severe shortage of condoms in the county.
The shortage has left sex workers worried about their profession and the health of their clients, as they struggle to access the necessary protection.
According to the sex workers, the decrease in condom supply is a result of the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19, which has led to an increase in daytime visits to guest houses and lodges.
“The lack of condoms has taken us by surprise. I am worried and I don’t know how I am going to continue my job as a sex worker. I must always have a condom in my bag since any time in order to protect myself from my clients,” said one of the sex workers.
The sex industry in Mtwapa, Kilifi appears to be thriving despite the government's temporary ban on entertainment closures. The sex workers are now calling on the government to increase the supply of free condoms to mitigate the risks associated with the shortage.
