Sex workers drawn from Mombasa county have lauded the government's move to lift the nationwide curfew. They are hopeful that their business will soon swing into full action.
Nkoko Injuu Africa, a CBO that champions the rights of sex workers across the coast region through its Executive Director Maryline Laini said that sex workers had welcomed the move since they had gone without work for close to two years.
She noted that they expected booming business in the next two months.
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"To us, this is good news. We expect to begin earning more especially now that we are headed to the festive season. We have gone without income since March 2020, and we are now ready to resume business full time in order to put food on our table, " Laini said.
She however called on the government to extend the time for operations of bars, clubs and buses since those are areas where they usually meet their clients.
"With the removal of the curfew, we expected closing of bars and restaurants not to be affected since these are areas where we get our clients for the revival of the economy. Let government agencies consider bars and hotels to operate full time to allow us to earn a living too," Laini added.
She noted that with the government’s measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus, sex workers had been forced to work during the day, in their houses, clients vehicles and bushes, which she says was not sufficient.
"We have experienced tough times with lack of facilities to do decent business. At times, despite the risks involved, we were being forced to take clients into our houses or offer services in the bush just to earn that extra coin," she said.
The organisation has over 4000 registered sex workers in parts of Kisauni and Nyali in Mombasa.
