This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Prostitution Goes Digital in Nairobi ¶
Prostitution, the world's oldest profession, has gone digital in Nairobi. Sex workers are now using apps and websites to find clients, making it easier for them to operate in the city.
According to a pimp interviewed by a journalist, the digital nature of prostitution has made it easier for him to procure women for his clients. He charges between Sh5,000 and Sh50,000, depending on the woman's body, and has managed to provide a decent living for his family.
However, not all sex workers are comfortable with the digital nature of prostitution. Some prefer to operate in brothels or on the streets, where they can interact with clients in person.
Despite the illegality of sex work in Kenya, the business has never been better. In Nairobi's CBD and River Road areas, brothels are thriving, with sex workers hanging out and leering at clients. The police are aware of the existence of these brothels, but they are not doing much to shut them down.
One brothel manager interviewed by the journalist said that business is booming, especially with the introduction of counties. She is not intimidated by digital prostitution and believes that it is better to get a woman from the streets or brothels rather than online.
However, not all sex workers agree with this view. Some believe that digital prostitution is the future and that it provides them with more opportunities and privacy. Penninah Mwangi, the director of the Bar Hostesses and Empowerment Programme (BHESP), supports digital prostitution and believes that it should be decriminalized.
She argues that if prostitution is decriminalized, sex workers will be able to register their businesses, pay taxes, and conduct themselves in a certain way. This will make it easier for the police to regulate the industry and reduce extortion.
However, not all sex workers are in favor of decriminalization. Some believe that it will lead to an increase in child prostitution and trafficking. Others believe that it will make it easier for clients to exploit them.
As digital prostitution continues to thrive in Nairobi, it remains to be seen whether the government will take action to regulate the industry. In the meantime, sex workers will continue to use apps and websites to find clients, and brothels will continue to operate in the city's CBD and River Road areas.
