Nairobi MCAs debate motion to ban sex workers from city

Askaris from the Nairobi county government arrests alleged commercial sex workers along Muindi Mbingu Street
Askaris from the Nairobi county government arrests alleged commercial sex workers along Muindi Mbingu Street

The Nairobi County assembly is debating a motion seeking to ban commercial sex in the city.

MCAs have raised concerns about the increase of sex workers in Nairobi.

"Commercial sex work in Nairobi has been on the rise over the years. It has become prevalent in most sub-counties in Nairobi,"

Woodley Kenyatta Golf course MCA Abraham Njihia said on Friday.

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Chapter 63 section 153 & 154 of the Penal Code, prohibits men and women from living wholly or partly on earnings or from soliciting money through commercial sex work.

Njihia said the

unlawful practice is rampant and taking place openly. He called for offenders to be punished as provided for in the law.

ODM nominated MCA Mellab Atema who was the seconder told the assembly that prostitution is slowly "eroding the African culture".

Atema said some of the street boys she has interacted with told her at times they beg for money in order to pay sex workers for "services".

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The leaders claimed most brothels are being branded massage parlors.

They mentioned

Hurlingham area

around Yaya Centre and Adam Acarde as some of the popular zones with such "massage parlors."

Imara Daima MCA Kennedy Obura said that prostitution starts right from the pubs where there are no age restrictions.

"Everything is digitized, parents who are at work are not aware of what their children back at home are accessing from the internet. As a parent it is my responsibility to enlighten my children on what is right and what is wrong. Morally upbringing is very important," Obura said.

According to nominated member Leah Naikanae, not all sex workers come from poor backgrounds.

She said on the contrary very educated and well off ladies especially from campus are involved in the act.

The debate will proceed on Tuesday, December 5.

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