What is the Cost of Child Prostitution?

Drugs, poverty and tourism are among the myriad vehicles which ferry young girls and boys to prostitution. The illicit trade is equally one of the biggest threats to the posterity of our country that is squarely dependent upon the wellbeing of the young generation. Prostitution, especially that which involves young girls aged between 12 and 18 is commonly rampant in informal settlements like Kibera Slums, Mathare, and Korogocho.

In slum dwellings taking drugs like Marijuana is the starting point to the selling of sex for livelihood. Consumption of drugs results in poor judgement and decision making ultimately rendering consumers mentally enslaved. Lacking the ability to weigh the consequences of a present action can be regarded as the most catastrophic thing that can hit a minor.

In Nairobi young girls below the legal consent age for sex go to bed with men for as little as Kshs.100 that translates to about 1USD. Despite the known dangers associated with such sex like unplanned pregnancy, diseases no one raises the eyebrow-not the guest room attendant who collects the bill from the clients, nor even the local authorities. It is even more traumatizing to note that friends, the family who are ought to protect and defend the rights of such children are actively involved in initiating them into prostitution-such despicable patronage.

The ever-increasing number of girls who drop out of school in Kenya has been attributed to child prostitution which ultimately results in poverty and illiteracy since these children often skip class to go serve their clients. This clouds the path to the realization of vision 2030 because education and training are expected to be the principal catalyst towards the realization of Vision 2030. Besides, the Constitution of Kenya 2010 makes education a basic right under the Bill of Rights where basic education is guaranteed for all children and the state is obliged to make its provision possible progressively.

Prostitution in Kenya has received such an overwhelming social acceptance that people no longer see it as a crime, indecent or immoral. This is so because while walking in the streets of Nairobi during the day, one’s eyes cannot fail to meet those of a sex hawker beckoning. Similarly, child prostitution has continued to grow like wildfire with the girls involved having both foreign customers as well as locals. The precarious business is said to earn one a daily income ranging from Kshs. 100-500. However, on some occasions, a tourist may give up on Kshs. 1000 on a good day.

In cities bordering the Indian ocean, the case is a bit different because a larger percentage of customers for sex are tourists who have a lot of money and the demand is also high as compared to slum areas. Consequently, children are trafficked from informal settlements expressly for sexual slavery by “aunties” who manage brothels in those areas. It is undeniably true that tourism is a fundamental economic pillar that provides a lot of Kenyans with jobs but where there are no stringent policies that can shield our children against the inhumane randy visitors that can only be equated to winning the whole world while losing own soul.

It is the prerogative of the government to fight and win the war against HIV and AIDS. The government of Kenya should invest heavily in this fight to either completely eradicate prostitution or make it children free. According to UNAIDS, there were approximately 37.7 million people across the globe with HIV in 2020. Of these, 36 million were adults and 1.7 million were children aged 0-14 years. More than half (53%) were women and girls. Kenya is one of the world’s affected countries with sex workers being the most affected. Research shows that approximately 30% of sex workers are HIV positive.

We need a government that can stand its ground and say an affirmative NO to child prostitution. Let us turn down offers that give a momentary merry, such as the proceeds of tourism in Diani, Malindi, Kilifi, and Mombasa where the future of poor children is killed and buried effectively. Make child prostitution illegal both on paper and in real life situation.