Commercial sex work means offering sex in exchange for money or other benefits.
In Machakos, girls as young as 15 years get into the trade without their knowledge that they are actually doing sex work.
Poverty in most homes within Machakos County has forced these girls to engage in vices of having sex with even older men for money or food.
This writer recently conducted an independent investigation in Machakos County, he interviewed some of the young girls who are already in the trade to find out why they venture into such acts at young ages.
"I am 19 years now, but I started engaging in this trade at 14," says Catherine Mwende (not her real name) since she begged this writer to hide her identity for fear of victimization.
She adds that since her mother could not afford school fees, she dropped out of school at the age of 14 in class eight.
Mwende says since they didn't have money for food and things like sanitary towels, she started to look for food in different ways.
"These boda-boda operators are the best so far because they get good money every day. I sleep with nearly ten of them in a day charging Sh 200 which translates to Sh2,000 per day," Mwende explained.
She told this writer that her mother could not provide her with sanitary pads, so she offers her body to get such effects.
Another victim is Sara Kalunde (also not her real name for the same reasons) aged 22 from Kathiani says she started offering sex in exchange for food when she was 15 years.
"My mother died when I was very young and was left with our father who is a drunkard and could not take care of me and my 2 brothers. So I just decided to do anything to help my siblings," says Sarah.
She adds that she used to offer sex to different men and just tell them to buy her food which she would take to her young brothers.
Martin Mukuli, an elder at Mbee location in Kathiani sub-county said many young girls are doing the imaginable and are not afraid of sponsors (Rich men who exploit young girls for sex and in return treat them with good money and other presents).
"Poverty is the first thing to blame for this," Mukuli told this writer.
He urged the county government to intervene and help poor families to avoid such occurrences.
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