Rape, low wages: It’s a dog’s life for Nairobi barmaids

If your salary is Sh7,000 and a man offers you Sh4,000 for sex and he is ready to wait for you to finish your work, then it’s very difficult to say, no - Barmaid Photo: Courtesy

Nairobi West Mall is a huge block where several small pubs morph into one huge watering hole. Seated next to a sewer line, the sharp smell of human waste pierces your nostrils when you walk into the mall.

At the farthest end in a row of small noisy pubs, Emma Mwende works as a barmaid in a small pub that can seat less than 10 patrons. At 27, Mwende still has the exuberance of a high school girl about to break her virginity. Light-skinned and well endowed, Mwende is a favourite of many drinkers. Unlike other pubs where waitresses wear uniforms, Mwende prefers body-hugging dresses that leave little to imagination.