Happy Valley: ‘Swinging’, the new Viagra in town

 Courtesy

Wife-swapping is nothing new in the city.

Young Kenyans’ obsession with wild sexual excitement is driving some married couples to experiment with thrills that would shock their parents and pastors to death.

Wife-swapping, also known as swinging, involves married couples or people in committed relationships, consensually exchanging partners for sex.

It is a secretive and promiscuous lifestyle by a class of elitist couples.

Weeks of digging by our moles have uncovered tight-knit informal swingers’ ‘clubs,’ whose core members are usually 10 or less people of diverse ages, are highly secretive and strictly vet prospective members who must be recommended.

While hints of the practice have occasionally featured in media reports, interviews with multiple sources indicate a rise in swinging, especially among middle-class couples.

“Some regularly hold weekly spouse-swapping sessions,” claimed one club member.

Our moles identified locations in high-end residential areas, a ranch in Subukia, and a farm in Limuru.

The son of a prominent politician travels twice a month to Subukia and his travels have nothing to do with passion for food security. The only passenger in his Range Rover Sport is usually his lovely wife.

Other scions of prominent families join him for alcohol-filled wife-swapping parties reminiscent of the pre-colonial decadence in the White Highlands that earned it the nickname “Happy Valley.” Or ‘Wanjohi Valley’ in reference to the copious litres of alcohol consumed.

“Most of them are sons of influential people in society, and they grew up together and went to the same schools. You can’t just be invited to the parties,” says another source, who got admission after his firm did some work for an influential family, and became friends with one of the sons.

“They all come with their wives. I have a wife, but I only come with my clande (clandestine lover), who is more of a second wife,” he says, adding that the rules of the ‘club’ require one to come with the wife.

The Nairobian infiltrated four of the reportedly numerous swapping clubs but only went as far as talking to members and being shown the houses where the parties take place.

“It is about pride; that’s why we don’t go out trying to seduce girls everywhere. If I have to sleep with someone outside my marriage, it has to be with someone who is at my level with no strings attached; someone who won’t expect me to leave my wife for her,” says a self-confessed wife-swapper.

The swapping ‘clubs’ have rules including certificates of HIV status and evidence of being free of STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

Proof of marriage is another rule but only one club The Nairobian investigated enforces it.