Thika sex workers on Monday accused police of harassment when conducting their business.
They now want the county government to legalise prostitution in order to protect them from the alleged harassment.
Speaking on Monday during an ongoing safe sex campaign at Mama Ngina gardens in Thika, the initiative acting Director Jane Kimani said that sex workers' business should be respected and protected through legislation. This, she said, will ensure there is no loophole for the industry to receive harsh treatment.
She claimed police officers abuse sex workers and the more than 400 sex workers who are registered with her organisation should be given a favourable environment to conduct their business.
Kimani said they have mobilised all the commercial workers in the town so that they can fight for their rights.
"Over the years sex workers have been wrongly accused of many cases including transmitting HIV but that is not true," she said.
Kimani added that: "We are calling on the county government of Kiambu to legalise our business to stop the harassment we go through every day from the police.We are Kenyans and we also have the right to work."
The activist claimed that people take advantage of the illegality of the business to sexually abuse prostitutes.
"We need security operations at night to assure us of our safety.We want damaged security lights repaired and police patrols because we are Kenyans and the government should protect us," she said.