I had never thought it could be possible to have a sit-down with commercial sex workers away from their nightlife. It is the work of a local consortium for non-governmental organizations that opened up so much to their lives beyond what they are perceived to be.
One Fred Muturi, the regional coordinator at the Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO) is always on the ground overseeing the organisation's HIV/AIDS program in Rongai.
He opens up on their involvement with key populations as sex workers, lactating mothers, children, gays and lesbians across the country.
In Rongai alone, more than 50 sex workers are actively involved in various programs through their Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA).
The relationship between KANCO and the sex workers manifests itself on different levels from advocacy, capacity building, awareness campaigns and even during resource mobilisation.
KANCO and KESWA work hand-in-hand championing for the rights of the sex workers to ensure that they are accorded the respect that a human being should be accorded by virtue of being human.
"Sex workers are also human beings like the rest of us and whenever their rights are violated, there is a need to raise a voice against that, " Mr Muturi says.
KANCO AGM members share insights towards enhancing the efficiency of the Kanco projects for greater impact [Source/Kanco]
The resources mobilized by the consortium are channelled towards Antiretroviral Therapy, procurement of condoms and lubricants which are issued to the sex workers to ensure safe and healthy sex life.
Susan, (not her real name), one of the 16020 sex workers reached by KANCO nationally spoke on condition of anonymity. She waxed lyrical about KESWA's work with KANCO in making their profession worthwhile.
"We are receiving a lot of support and being empowered with tools to guarantee safe sex. We did not know what our rights were but thanks to the training sessions we have been attending, we now know what our rights are. The ignorance that was there has dissipated," Susan says.
"Before KANCO came, we were at a greater risk of contracting or infecting others with HIV/AIDS. Not anymore," she adds.
Mr Muturi contends that before joining the consortium, KESWA just like many upcoming NGOs lacked the capacity to train their members and source for funds.
"When NGO enroll as KANCO members, they gain a lot to the extent that even when they leave they can stand on their own in terms of capacity building and resource mobilisation," he says.
A capacity-building training [Source/Kanco]
The heart-warming stories do not mean that it's all smooth-sailing. There are challenges especially with getting donor funding.
"There has been a drastic fall in donor funding which means that we have to scale down the support that we give organisations that are part of the consortium," the regional coordinator says.
It has been a daunting task getting sex workers on board given the stigma that is associated with their lifestyle. Scores are hesitant to join groups that can champion their interests and rights.
In order to be eligible for KANCO's support, an NGO has to be duly registered by the state. This is meant to ensure proper accountability and wading off scammers.
KANCO makes sure that the money allocated to its members is put to proper use while violations lead to deregistration from the consortium and in some cases legal action.
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