Lobbyists advocating for the rights of sex workers in Mombasa County has faulted the government for criminalising sex work.
Sex workers lobby Nkoko Iju Africa Executive director Maryline Laini said it is ironical that the same government criminalising sex work is taxing them.
She asked the government to decriminalise sex work saying they do not enjoy tax exemption.
“The public perception in that sex work is a crime. The government should stop harassing us,” she said.
She said sex workers should be accorded all the rights as any other human being.
Warning
Earlier, Laini expressed fear after she was allegedly threatened by senior administrator for advocating for the rights of sex workers.
“The administrator has vowed to shut any organisation championing for the rights of sex workers,” she said.
She said the administrator while addressing a public gathering ordered a closure of all guests houses located in residential areas.
The official vowed to shut all the sex dens in the area.
“The public has said yes and that is what we shall do. Is it our resolution that sex workers should be evicted from this area,” he said.
Relief
Meanwhile, Nkoko Iju Africa outreach Officer, Everlyne Nabwire says most of the sex workers evicted at Bombolulu area, Nyali Constituency are between the age of 24 to 50 years.
Nabwire says evicted sex workers have become a burden to their guardians due to the economic strain caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier this week, the lobby donated relief food to the evicted sex workers to them a month.
