Mombasa politicians pay male hookers Sh50,000

 “Some of our customers are high-ranking government officials, senior politicians and even religious leaders. Kenyans should drop this hypocrisy"

Steve Kamangu was walking along Digo Road in Mombasa town at around 11pm, the hot and humid air blowing in his face. A light-skinned woman dressed in buibui called out to him from across the street and he stopped, out of curiosity as the woman crossed the road to join him.

A few seconds later, Kamangu wished the earth could open and swallow him. The woman turned out to be a male sex worker who thought he had bagged a client.

“His popping Adam’s Apple and deep voice left me in shock even after ‘she’ plainly declared his intentions and explained how much it would cost,” Kamangu said, adding that an oncoming vehicle almost ran over him as he dashed for the next matatu home.

For residents of Mombasa CBD, this is not news as bold gay men openly solicit for sex, just like their female colleagues.

Forget the anti-gay rhetoric from religious and community leaders in Mombasa, skimpily cross-dressed men with poorly done make-up parade the streets every single night and their number keeps growing by the day.

One of them, Husna (who later revealed his real name as Omar) told The Nairobian that he has been in business for the last three years due to harsh economic times.

“Some of our customers are high-ranking government officials, senior politicians and even religious leaders. Kenyans should drop this hypocrisy and legalise both prostitution and homosexuality,” Husna said, adding that, “Some of the top politicians and public figures readily part with Sh50,000 for a session lasting less than three hours. They however ask us to be discreet and since we want them to come back, we comply.”

A jobless Husna further reveals that, “I have been gay since high school.”

The Nairobian learned that he graduated from a fashion and design college but he never got employed. He adds that men in pubs like his feminine looks, “which got me one partner but due to high demand, I joined the trade for financial gain.”

He adds: “Our charges are higher than women, but we’re constantly harassed by cops who demand bribes and sexual favours,” he said.

Police sources in Mombasa refused to be drawn into this topic, saying those who have been sexually assaulted should have reported the matter.

A local poet and historian seems unperturbed by these incidents. He claims that homosexuality at the Coast has been in existent since precolonial times.

“During the colonial period in Lamu, boys dressed like women, performed striptease and then paired off with older men from the audience,” said Amir Mohamed.

It was at times looked at as stupid, pointless and even laughed at, but rarely was it frowned upon, he adds.

While gay hookers are not complaining, the same can’t be said of their female counterparts who have accused some male prostitutes of using juju.

“It pains us so much when men ignore us and sleep with their fellow men,” laments Betty Kadzo, a sex worker who has been in the streets of Mombasa since 1998.

“We are too many for the few men, yet it is rare for our male counterparts go without clients. Look at that one there (pointing to a coal black gay man catwalking across the street), he sleeps with around 15 men per night when we are languishing here. He surely must be using charms.”