Where prostitutes give credit services

Call girls wait for customers in Nairobi's city centre. [PHOTO: JAMES MWANGI]

Commercial sex workers are offering sex on credit due to the current tough economic times. The workers said that hard times are now forcing men to "borrow" with a promise to pay later. The ladies said they have now been forced to offer sex on credit to keep loyal customers, whom they fear might consider other options if denied.Ann*, a Ugandan who operates in Kilimani, Nairobi, says the tough times have pushed away many customers she had, and they are now reorganising their business to remain afloat.

Calling her loyal customers, who claim that they don't have money and would prefer to have sex and pay later, has become a norm in the city. The sex worker believes that money should not make her lose her loyal customers who might "starve"."Just like we are doing badly, our customers are doing badly, and most have been calling us because they don't have money. Some pay and others struggle or refuse to pay," Ann says.

Marilyne Laini, director of Nkoko Iju African, an NGO with 4,000 members of commercial sex workers, said that despite announcing this year's new prices, where "a session with no romance" was adjusted to Sh500 from Sh300 and a full package of romance now going at Sh1,000, up from Sh500, the members have failed to access customers."Our girls are so desperate that they are even looking for just 50 shillings. And imagine the government has stopped donating condoms so they have to buy them for 100 shillings," Laini said.

Low peak

She added that business has been very low and that some of them have had to look for old clients, who are being serviced on credit. She added that a good number of girls are also joining other casual jobs, such as mjengo or house cleaning, to put food on the table. "We have men who negotiate with girls to do this job but end up demanding sex as an incentive," she said.

Jane Njeri, who is based in Thika, said that they are now on the streets during the day to look for potential customers. "Those who have been our longtime clients tell us they want to have sex and then pay later in the evening," she said. "And since he is a person you have known for years and you need him tomorrow, why not cooperate?"

Stanley Ngara, commonly known as the "King of Condoms," said the situation has been so bad that some sex workers have had to walk long distances to their areas of operation and back home after failing to attract a client for days.

"On average, I get six calls a week about men who have refused to pay. And because the clients fear men, I am asked to call, and they cooperate by paying back the debt," Ngara said.