This archive report was first published on 18 November 2019.
On a dark alley in Kondele slums, Kisumu, 15-year-old Josephine, a commercial sex worker, negotiates with her second client of the night. She has been in the illicit trade for two years, introduced to it by her cousin, who also engages in prostitution.
Josephine is not alone; many underage girls in Kisumu have been coerced or pushed into prostitution due to poverty, lack of education, and exploitation by adults. According to sources, the ring is run by business people, hoteliers, and adult sex workers who hook the girls with clients and earn commissions.
Despite the prevalence of HIV in the region, which stands at 16.3 per cent, the girls continue to engage in prostitution. Interviews with hotel workers and boda boda riders revealed that many men prefer underage girls, leading to a rise in child prostitution.
Phelister, a 17-year-old girl from Nyalenda slums, says she is forced to use alcohol, cigarettes, and bhang to drug herself while engaging in prostitution. She is part of a group of five girls who work under an adult prostitute, who takes commissions for linking them to clients and organising rooms.
The exploitation of underage girls has not gone unnoticed by authorities. Nyanza regional police commander Vincent Makhoka said they are aware of the vice and are working with various government and non-governmental agencies to tackle it. Recently, they arrested three people in connection with child prostitution and have enhanced their patrols.
Mr Humphrey Wandeo, the director of the children's department in Kisumu, attributed the rise in child prostitution to neglect by parents. He urged parents to take the leading role in monitoring their children and working with various organisations to rescue children from the streets.
