This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
According to Fauzia, a Nairobi slay queen, dating a sponsor is a full-time job that requires deliberate ground rules. These rules include not calling at certain hours and not exposing oneself to the sponsor's wife.
"I don't fear anything because when you are dating a married man, there are limitations he will put," Fauzia explains.
She adds that she is not supposed to call the sponsor when he says he is home, and if his wife learns about her, she should not expect the wife to quarrel with her because the sponsor will likely end the relationship.
Wambui, another Nairobi slay queen, shares similar experiences. She says that as a sponsor's girlfriend, she is not supposed to take photos with the sponsor's phone, especially in public places where his number plates can be seen.
"If I'm videoing in his car, he should not be seen with me. I can be seen in those big hotels but not him, his number plates should also not be seen," Wambui says.
Fauzia has been dating sponsors for six years and claims that she cannot stay without them in her life. She prefers dating married men because they provide her with financial support, which she says is essential for her lifestyle.
"I use PrEP (a pill taken by negative people to protect them from contracting HIV), although I also use protection just in case of condom burst," Fauzia says.
Regarding the potential of clashes between sponsors, Fauzia says that she schedules her sponsors such that they cannot meet. She lies to one sponsor that she has gone for a business trip to avoid any conflicts.
Wambui also shares her experience with having multiple sponsors. She says that she has three sponsors, each providing her with different forms of support. One pays her rent and does her shopping, another pays school fees for her sister, and the third is for traveling.
"The life that I am living you cannot live without. It is fun and adventure. I have three sponsors. One pays my Sh12,000 rent and does my shopping monthly. The second one pays school fees for my sister and the third is for travelling, and he is the most frequent one I meet," Wambui says.
The two women said they are content living with sponsors and do not regret their decision so long as they abide by the wishes of the sponsors.
